EDITORIAL - Addicts in uniform

In a step towards cleansing the Philippine National Police of drug addicts, at least seven members of the Cebu City Police Office were dismissed from service for taking illegal drugs.

The seven policemen were found positive for shabu in a random drug test conducted last year. And during a confirmatory test, it was found out that they were indeed using illegal drugs. This prompted the filing of a grave misconduct case against them.

In its decision, the Regional Appellate Board of the National Police Commission found the seven policemen guilty and dismissed them from service. Four of them were ordered out from the police force effective April 12 this year.

We hope that this development would serve as a strong warning to other policemen who are still using the prohibited drugs. Sr. Supt. Audie Villacin, chief of the Regional Police Community Relations Directorate, said those who engage in drugs have no place in the police organization.

The problem on illegal drug has already been penetrating the police force for decades. Many policemen taking shabu or other kinds of prohibited drugs remain hooked on their vice because there has been no serious campaign to clean up the ranks of drug addicts.

It's undeniable that drugs can affect the performance of a policeman, who should be in his right mental and physical conditions to be able to do his task well.

Good thing the Regional Police Office-7 has started to take some effort against such menace. We hope that it is serious in this campaign in order for the police to serve the public better.