NOCPPO cops undergo mandatory drug testing

More than 300 personnel under the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) have underwent mandatory drug tests.

NOCPPO spokesperson Police Lt. Judesses Catalogo said that 307 police personnel that were tested were members of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET), coming from the 31 city and municipal police stations in the province.

Catalogo said the mandatory drug test is conducted every month by NOCPPO’s Provincial Crime Laboratory.

Aside from the 307, another 52 police personnel assigned at NOCPPO headquarters at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City were “randomly picked” for drug testing.

Catalago pointed out that police personnel are not allowed to decline drug testing, and those who refuse will be ordered to submit a “written explanation.” If the reason is not valid, they could face administrative charges.

Cops who test positive for illegal drugs will be placed under restrictive custody and will undergo confirmatory drug tests. If the confirmatory tests will again show positive result for illegal drug use, the erring cop will be dismissed and terminated from the service.

Back in April of last year, NOCPPO recorded two police personnel testing positive for illegal drug use. In the same month, another cop, a police corporal assigned in Negros Occidental, was also dismissed from the service also due to use of illegal drugs.* (DGB)