Police trainee tests positive for ‘marijuana use’, charged

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A police trainee who was arrested last Sunday for alleged marijuana use is facing criminal charges after he tested positive in a drug test.

Police Major Jovil Sedel, head of Police Station 1, said charges for illegal possession of suspected marijuana and drug use were filed against Patrolman Bryn Jephthah Gimotea, 32, of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

Gimotea was arrested at his boarding house at Barangay 37 over the weekend, after he was caught by his supervising officer allegedly using the contraband inside his room during inspection.

Gimotea recently underwent a six-month Field Training Program (FTP) after recovering from an accident here in 2014.

Sedel said Gimotea admitted using drugs in his teenage years. He was even previously warned by his superiors after receiving report about it until he got caught.

He is detained at Police Station 1. He will also face administrative charges.