Nine Coast Guard personnel restricted after drug test

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Nine Coast Guard District Southern Visayas personnel assigned to the Negros Island Region were placed under restriction after initially testing positive for illegal drug use during a random drug screening conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday.

CGDSV spokesperson Lt. j.g. Ronnielyn Lapitan said the personnel who yielded positive results include seven from Negros Oriental, one of them female, and two from Negros Occidental.

The urine screening covered 281 personnel out of the more than 1,000 CGDSV personnel in the region.

Lapitan said PDEA has assured the Coast Guard that the confirmatory results, which are being processed in Iloilo, will be released promptly.

Should the confirmatory examinations verify the initial findings, the personnel concerned could face administrative charges and disciplinary sanctions, including possible dismissal from the service.

However, if the confirmatory tests return negative results, they will be allowed to resume their duties, although an investigation will still be conducted.

Lapitan emphasized that confirmatory testing is necessary because initial screenings may occasionally produce false-positive results due to factors unrelated to illegal drug use.

Under Dangerous Drugs Board regulations for public officers, drug testing involves a screening test and a confirmatory test, with the confirmatory test used to verify a positive screening result.

Lapitan noted that the personnel involved have no previous records of offenses and had undergone earlier random drug tests as part of the agency’s efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace.

Despite the incident, the CGDSV reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against illegal drugs to ensure that personnel remain capable of carrying out their duties effectively and serving the public efficiently.

Lapitan also disclosed that additional random drug tests will be conducted on the remaining personnel across the region, including Siquijor.

The initiative forms part of the Philippine Coast Guard’s continuing campaign to strengthen discipline, professionalism and operational readiness within its ranks.

The Philippine Coast Guard is mandated to carry out maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime security, and marine environmental protection functions.