DRUG TESTING. The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) continuously conducts random drug testing on its personnel. As of August13 this year, some 254 Pangasinan policemen underwent drug testing and so far yielded negative results. (Photo courtesy of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- A total of 254 policemen of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) underwent random drug testing from January 1 to August 13 this year as part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) campaign against illegal drugs and internal cleansing.
Col. Redrico Maranan, acting provincial director of PPPO, said they have been conducting surprise random drug testing for all policemen in all local police stations.
“We are doing this as a part of our internal cleansing. We want the public not to fear the police because the police are here to protect the public,” he said.
Maranan said every week, 10 policemen are randomly selected, and are ordered to proceed to PPO to undergo drug tests.
Even officials and local police chiefs are not exempted from taking the surprise random drug testing, he added.
Maranan urged the public not to hesitate in complaining about rowdy or abusive policemen for them to be given due action.
“We need to discipline the policemen who abuse their position, or even act rude. We do not need these kinds of people. What we need are policemen who will serve the people properly,” he said.
He added the random drug testing so far yielded negative results.
Meanwhile, Maranan confirmed there had been a minor reshuffling in their ranks.
He said some chiefs of police were not able to meet his standards, resulting in some of them being relieved of their position.
“Noong dumating ako dito sa Pangasinan, hiniling ko sa lahat ng mga hepe na lalong pagbutihin ang pagsisikap na sugpuin ang krimen at pag-ibayuhin ang pagpapatupad ng batas (When I arrived in Pangasinan, I asked the chiefs of police to do their best to fight criminality and to strengthen law enforcement),” he added. (PNA)
