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By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

POLICE director for northern Mindanao Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado has ordered the dismissal of 20 police officers and the filing of charges against 17 others for illegal drug use, Camp Alagar announced on Tuesday.

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The announcement came even as Desquitado ordered the start of mandatory drug tests for all National Police personnel in Region 10 as part of a “cleansing process.”

Desquitado said the  mandatory drug tests would include police officials, and there would be no exemptions.

He said the drug test schedules for every police station and unit, and offices would be unannounced.

Desquitado said 42 National Police personnel in the region were found positive for drug use during random drug tests. Of the 42, he said, one is a non-uniformed employee, and 20 officers had to be sacked for drug use.

He said two of 21 officers facing criminal and administrative cases have been in the service for 20 years, and they opted to retire early.

Desquitado said the remaining 19 have appealed their cases.

One of the two, a 50-year old, holds the rank of chief inspector which is equivalent to the military’s major. Officials said the chief inspector chose to apply for early retirement so he could enjoy benefits.

The lowest ranking officer found positive for drug use is a Police Officer 1 or PO1.

Of the police offices in the Region 10, the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office topped the list in terms of officers found positive for substance abuse, according to Camp Alagar.

Supt. Surki Sereñas, Camp Alagar spokesman, said the recent moves of Camp Alagar should be enough to send a strong message that there is no place for illegal drugs in National Police.

“The existing policy is further strengthened to prove the sincerity of the PNP in its anti-illegal drugs campaign. Instead of random drug tests, mandatory drug tests would be randomly conducted,” said Sereñas, adding they were expecting a decline in the number of cases of officers who are into drugs as the National Police is “bent on seriously weeding out rogue cops within our ranks.”

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