BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – Four soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Camp Monteclaro, Miag-ao town tested positive for illegal drugs.
One held the rank of a corporal and three were private first class, said Major Ray Tiongson, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
All Army soldiers are required to undergo drug tests in the organization’s bid to keep its ranks “clean,” explained Tiongson.
In a random drug test August last year, one of the four became positive for shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride.
The immediate superior of the four soldiers, however, decided to conduct another round of drug tests four months later.
The Army official was already suspicious of the four because of the behavior they were exhibiting, Tiongson explained.
The four indeed tested positive in the December 2013 drug test.
They were discharged from the service three months later, on March 29, 2014.
Tiongson said the four belonged to the Alpha Company of the 82nd IB.
They admitted to having used illegal drugs, he added.
Tiongson said the Philippine Army is “serious” in the campaign against illegal drugs among its personnel.
Last year, according to Tiongson, 10 members of 16th IB based in Mindanao were also found positive for illegal drugs and were subsequently dismissed./PN
