7 cops sacked for illegal drugs
CEBU, Philippines - At least seven members of the Cebu City Police Office were dismissed from service after they failed in a random drug test conducted by the CCPO last year.
Another city policeman was charged with dishonesty for submitting water instead of his urine during the test.
The Regional Appellate Board (RAB) of the National Police Commission dismissed from service the seven policemen for grave misconduct.
A statement from the Regional Police Office-7 said PO1 Rico Caballero, PO1 Kristopper James Talam, PO1 Bob Maglasang, and PO1 Gary Aying were guilty of grave misconduct and were dismissed from service effective April 12 this year.
The PRO-7 said PO2 Elyzer Zafico and PO1 Mohammad Bungkalot were also found guilty of the same offense but there was no record whether they appealed before the RAB.
PO1 Gregorio Bercero is likewise guilty of grave misconduct but has pending appeal with the RAB.
PO1 Gregg Abasolo was charged with dishonesty for submitting water instead of his urine for testing.
He was then required to produce his own urine, which was found positive of shabu. But in a confirmatory test, the result turned out to be negative.
According to the Discipline, Laws and Order Section of the PRO-7, Abasolo was exonerated of the dishonesty case on October 30, 2012.
Sr. Supt. Audie Villacin, chief of Regional Police Community Relations Directorate (RPCRD)-7, said the penalty imposed against Caballero, Talam, Maglasang and Aying was final and executory.
Villacin said RAB has the power to decide or resolve with finality all cases.
The random drug testing was initiated by former CCPO director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe on May 2, 2012.
Buenafe summoned 27 of his personnel from different police stations to a seminar at the CCPO that day. But later in the seminar, they were ordered to undergo a drug test.
Those who undergone the test were reportedly chosen upon the recommendation of their ground commanders.
Buenafe earlier said the drug test was meant to show the organization’s concern for every police operative’s health and to check if they are in the right condition to serve the public.
“A policeman should be in the right condition, mentally and physically, to serve the public,†he said.
The use of illegal drugs would only compromise the policeman’s work and decision-making, he added.
Villacin told The FREEMAN that what happened to eight policemen would serve as warning to the rest of the PNP personnel that those who engage in illegal drugs have no place in the organization.
“We just want the public to know that the process of administrative case filed against erring cops naa jud nay result,†he said.
PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. said that the drug test is one way to prove to the public that the Philippine National Police is trying its best to clean its ranks.
“This manifests our seriousness in our anti-drug operations,†he added. — /LPM (FREEMAN)
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