Duterte wants 3 cops hooked on shabu dismissed

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte strongly pushes for the immediate dismissal of three policemen who tested positive for substance abuse in a random urine test conducted among Region XI police officers.

Duterte vehemently objected the recommendation of the Police Regional Appellate Board (PRAB) to reinstate to the service of PO2 Ritchie Mendoza, PO2 Mario Zata and PO1 Gilbert Parcon. The three were found positive of using metaphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in an earlier random test.

"They have no right to be in the service. If the appellate board’s decision centers on the non-commission of a crime, it would be a valid opinion. But they were found positive in their urine tests. They were shabu users. I disagree to give them a chance. We do not need policemen who are drug users," the mayor said.

The three erring policemen were first ordered dismissed by Southern Mindanao regional police head Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapena.

"But apparently they brought their case before the PRAB that has ruled in their favor due to a technicality. However, I still maintain that they should not be reinstated," Lapena said.

Although the three policemen were assigned to the Southern Mindanao regional police command, Duterte said he would still work on blocking their reinstatement into the service in his capacity as chairman of the regional peace and order council.