PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas. (File photo)
MANILA – Two Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in Albay and a graduating police cadet are now in hot water after testing positive for shabu in a random drug test, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Tuesday.
In a statement, Sinas said he has ordered an immediate pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against Cadet 1st Class John David Macagba of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Pat. Christian Laganzon of Ligao City Police Station and non-uniformed personnel (NUP) Giovanni Adulta of Tabaco City Police Station.
Sinas ordered a drug test for the entire graduating class of the PNPA after a graduating cadet was mauled by three fellow cadets last New Year’s Eve.
Citing a report from Brig. Gen. Steve Ludan, PNPA director, Sinas said only Macagba failed the test after his urine specimen showed traces of shabu.
The victim --Cadet 1st Class Joab Mar Nacnas-- remains in the hospital and has yet to undergo drug testing.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-5 director, Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante reported that as of Dec. 30, 2020, a total of 8,067 PRO-5 personnel had undergone drug testing wherein Laganzon and Adulta tested positive in confirmatory tests based on official chemistry reports of the PRO-5's crime laboratory.
Bustamante said both Laganzon and Adulta have been transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Service effective Monday to ensure their availability to face further investigation.
Laganzon has since been stripped of his police badge and firearm.
Since July 2016, a total of 438 PNP personnel have tested positive for drug use, 382 of whom have been dismissed and terminated from the service, while 39 cases are still pending resolution.
Based on data from the PNP Crime Laboratory for the year 2020, the police force has conducted 173,133 random drug tests where 46 cops tested positive for use of illegal drugs. (PNA)
