ILOILO City – Twenty-five police officers assigned in the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) were called for a “surprise” random drug testing yesterday.
These cops were all members of the IPPO’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) led by Police Major Gernvenson Moyo.
Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police provincial director, said the unannounced check wanted to ensure that no policeman engaged in illegal drug use.
The drug test was performed by the Police Regional Office 6 crime laboratory and the results will be released soon.
“This is part of our internal cleansing. As policemen, we should be models and keep the police force drug-free,” Gorero said.
Police officers flunking the drug tests face administrative charges and could be removed from the service.
The drug test was conducted two days after Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda assumed his new post as Western Visayas’ top cop.
One of the key strategies Miranda is pushing is going after high-valued drug personalities in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces as well as those in the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Miranda said policemen region-wide will also undergo random drug testing./PN
