60 Cebu City cops undergo surprise drug test

At least 60 personnel of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) undergo a surprise drug test on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. | Pegeen Sararaña

CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 60 cops coming from the different units of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were called to their headquarters to undergo surprise drug test on Tuesday, June 28.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO’s deputy director for administration, said the drug testing is part of the Internal Cleansing Policy of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Several other policemen were also made to undergo mandatory drug testing earlier, but the conduct of testings were stopped temporarily because of the need to replenish their supply of drug testing kits.

Parilla said data as to the number of policemen who were already made to undergo drug testing earlier remains unavailable as of this writing.

At least 1, 200 cops are assigned to CCPO.  On Tuesday, 60 of these were made to undergo surprise drug testing.

“Wa pata kaabot og 50% sa atoang personnel. Mao nga atoa ni nga paspasan kay nahutdan man sad tag kit maong naundang ta. Then karon, we have requested with the city and nag coordinate sad ta sa atoang health service sa available nga mga kits,” Parilla said.

(We have not yet reached a 50 percent [accomplishment] in the drug testing of our police.  We are trying to hasten the conduct of drug testing now because we had to stop earlier.  We requested the city and we coordinate with our health services [office] for additional [testing] kits.)

Parilla said cops who test positive for illegal drug use risk dismissal from service.

“As usual, dismissal from the service. Wala nay daghang pangutana,” he added.

(As usual, dismissal from the service. No more questions asked.)

READ: CCPO exec: Cebu City cop fails surprise drug test on 1st half of year