50 police station chiefs pass surprise drug test

CEBU, Philippines - All 50 police station chiefs in Cebu tested negative during a surprise drug test at the provincial headquarters on Monday.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Noel Gillamac called on all 50 station chiefs for a command conference last Monday. After lunch, he announced that all of them will undergo drug test.

Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, said no one among the 50 station chiefs tested positive of illegal drugs.

He said that the drug test was part of CPPO’s counter-intelligence effort to cleanse their ranks.

By subjecting police officers to random drug tests, he said they would know who among them are involved in illegal drug use.

Albotra said CPPO is “sincere” in its fight against illegal drugs as mandated by Police Regional Office-7 director Prudencio Tom Bañas.

The PIB chief further said that their counter-intelligence measures will not stop at the station chiefs.

“Dili ni ma-stop. Hopefully tanang kapolisan atong ma-drug test aron mahibaw-an kung kinsa’y involved sa illegal drugs,” he said.

Last Monday’s testing kits were provided by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CPADAC), which has been supporting the provincial police in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“We are so grateful sa support sa CPADAC and of the effort of the governor sa atong campaign against illegal drugs,” Albotra added.  (FREEMAN)