PNP-13 conducts drug test to uniformed personnel
BUTUAN CITY -- Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 conducted a surprise and random drug test to its uniformed personnel assigned at the Regional Headquarters on January 2, as part of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) ongoing internal cleansing program.
The activity was led by PCol. Michael F. Lebanan, officer-in-charge of PRO13, together with PCol. James T. Goforth, chief of the Regional Staff, and other police commissioned officers and police non-commissioned officers.
The on-the-spot drug testing was carried out by the personnel of the Regional Forensic Unit 13. Urine samples were collected and will be tested for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in marijuana, and methamphetamine, the substance found in shabu.
Those who will be tested positive for illegal drug use will have 15 days to contest the results using the same specimen. Following this, they will undergo a pre-charge investigation, and the penalty determined through summary hearing proceedings is dismissal from the police service.
“We are at the forefront of the battle against the drug menace and to become effective in this task, we must ensure that our ranks are untainted,” PCol. Lebanan said. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
