21 cops dismissed for drug use in C. Visayas

Several police officers underwent a drug test. (File Photo)

At least 21 policemen were dismissed from the service between 2011 and 2013 in the region, mostly for drug use.

The figures were announced in a briefing yesterday to show that the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 was taking action to keep their ranks free of drug uers.

Four dismissed policemen were from Bohol, seven from Negros Oriental, seven from Cebu Province, one from Siquijor and eight from Cebu City.

“There are still eight pending cases for hearing and or resolution,” said Supt. Henry Biñas, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division-Central Visayas (RIDMD-7).

As of Aug. 4, Biñas said random drug tests have been conducted on eight percent of all policemen in the region.

Seven tested positive of drug use: four from PRO 7 headquarters, one from Bohol, one from Mandaue City and one from Cebu Province.

The seven have been reassigned to their unit’s holding unit.

One policeman, PO2 Bernard Almeda, is under investigation for allegedly protecting a drug den after he was arrested in the house of a suspected drug pusher during a raid in Borbon town last July.

Biñas said that every police officer who tests positive for drug use will be given 15-days to challenge the result in a confirmatory test.

Supt. Rex Derilo, deputy chief of Regional Intelligence Division (RID), said they also received reports that some government officials use illegal drugs but their names will not come out until evidence is gathered against them.

Mindanao is a major source of illegal drugs, he said, and the transit points are areas badly affected by supertyphoon Yolanda where security remains weak.

Supt Edward Carranza, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff, said PRO-7 and the local chief executives are in close coordination and very serious in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Local chief executives and even barangay tanods in Cebu city and province were subjected to random drug tests,” Carranza said.