ILOILO City – A policeman earlier barred from a promotion after testing positive for illegal drugs has been cleared by the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) of the Department of Health (DOH).
Senior Police Officer 1 Redan Octaviano was found positive for illegal substance use on June 22 when he underwent a test as part of the requirements for promotion.
Due to his failed drug test, Octaviano was unable to join some of the 1,140 cops under Police Regional Office 6 who were promoted on Monday.
He was also transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Office of the PRO-6 from his former assignment at the administrative office of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
Octaviano was even subjected to an investigation to find out if he was using illegal drugs.
According to Senior Police Officer 2 Gregoria Antonano, spokesperson of the IPPO, the same specimen sample from Octaviano was submitted to DOH’s NRL for confirmation testing on Aug. 1.
“We received the confirmatory drug test result – he was negative of illegal substance, particularly methamphetamine,” said Antonano.
The medicine for acid reflux, which Octaviano took before his drug test at the PRO-6, was one of the main reasons why he turned out positive in the drug test, said Antonano.
Now, said Antonano, the IPPO is working on bringing back Octaviano to his original assignment.
She also said the IPPO was encouraging Octaviano to apply again for a promotion. (PNA)
