Camp Alagar makes 100 cops, workers take drug test

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

SOME 100 officers and non-uniformed personnel of Camp Alagar were subjected to drug tests on orders of police regional director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb on Monday.

Supt. Lemuel Gonda, Camp Alagar spokesman, said the order was issued in line with an internal cleansing program aimed unmasking officers who are into substance abuse.

Pacleb led by exmaple and submitted his urine specimen to the Regional Crime Laboratory during a command conference.

“Gihimo ang surprise drug testing kay nahuman naman ang mandatory drug testing. Part kini sa internal cleansing program,” Gonda said.

He said similar surprise drug tests would be conducted in all police provincial, city and municipal offices in northern Mindanao.

Among those who were tested on Monday were were officers and non-uniformed personnel of Camp Alagar’s command group, divisions and regional operation support units.

Gonda said the objective of the program is to restore and uphold the integrity of the police organization and win back public trust in line with the government’s “war on drugs.”

He said the police organization is intolerant of its members who are into substance abuse.

Gonda said those found positive for illegal drug use or involvement in illegal drug syndicates would face dismissal from the police service as a matter of policy.

He said over 10 police officers have so far been dismissed from the police service because they were either drug users or were involved in the illegal drug trade.