Most of the police officers in Pinamungajan town in western Cebu underwent a surprise drug test yesterday after the recent arrest of PO1 Ian Patrick Carvellida who was allegedly caught sniffing shabu in the house of a suspected drug personality.
Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7), said in a press briefing yesterday that policemen should be the ones to set an example in the community.
“One of our objective is to maintain integrity and leadership by example,” said Comendador, referring to the drug test as a way to cleanse the ranks of the Pinamungajan police station.
Carvellida, 29, was an investigator of the Pinamungajan Police. He allegedly went to the house of drug dealer Allan Salazar in civilian clothes to buy a pack of shabu for personal use when operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) raided the drug den. When he tried to draw his firearm, an operative shot him on the leg. Carvellida is still recuperating at Chong Hua Hospital.
SPO1 Reynaldo Solante, PIB team leader, told Cebu Daily News that charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 for possession of illegal drugs and visiting a drug den will be filed against Carvellida today before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, police have yet to determine the identities of two other police officers who allegedly visited Salazar’s house for drug use but was able to leave before the raid.
“Based on that incident, it is surprising to know that it involves not only one police personnel in one setting,” said Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy regional director for operations of PRO-7.
Out of the 22 police officers of Pinamungajan, only 19 were present in the local police station as the three others were in Cebu City to attend a court hearing.
Lawas assured that the three police officers were instructed to undergo the drug test at the crime laboratory in the city. If police officers were found to be positive of illegal drug use, sanctions will be implemented and they will be asked to explain, said Lawas. Criminal and administrative charges will also be filed.
Comendador said once identified, the two police officers will be relieved from post pending an investigation.
However, in a phone interview, Insp. Gilfred Baroman, Pinamungajan Police chief, said the 19 police officers including him were found to be negative of drug abuse as per result of the examination.
“All of us were found to be negative after the drug test initiated by the RID operatives and personnel from the crime laboratory,” said Baroman, who is facing an investigation for failing to monitor the involvement of his men in illegal drugs.
He, however, said that he had not yet received any relief orders for his transfer.