4 PDEA agents fail drug test

Four personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have been found positive for using dangerous drugs, results of a drug test showed.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido Jr. , withheld their names pending the filing of administrative and criminal cases against them.

The four, with ranks of Police Officer 1 to Special Police Officer are members of the first batch of 103 PDEA personnel from the national headquarters and Metro Manila Regional Office (MMRO) who took the drug test last month. The regional offices of the PDEA conduct their own drug test.

Avenido said, as a result of the findings, there is probable cause to indict the four pursuant to a National Police Commission (Napolcom) memorandum on guidelines against use of prohibited drugs by Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel.

Avenido added that same offense is punishable under Article II, Section 15 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Since the disciplinary jurisdiction over the four personnel remains with the PNP, the PDEA chief said he recommended that appropriate summary dismissal proceedings be undertaken by the police organization against them, adding that said personnel should also undergo mandatory rehabilitation pending the outcome of the summary proceedings.

RA 9165 mandates the holding of annual drug tests on all officers and members of the military, police and other law enforcement agencies.

"Those PDEA personnel found positive, as in the case of the four policemen, will be returned to their mother units which will conduct the disciplinary proceeding against them and which will require them to undergo mandatory rehabilitation," Avenido said.

Majority of PDEA’s current employees are from the PNP. It may be recalled that when the PDEA was activated in July this year, it requested the PNP for the issuance of a detail order. Hence, most of its current personnel are from the abolished anti-drug units of the PNP detailed with the agency.