PRO-6 conducts surprise drug tests

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Just like in previous leaderships of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the current hierarchy still puts premium on internal cleansing as one of its flagship programs.

And what better way to do internal cleansing than getting rid of “undesirables” lurking in your own backyard?

That’s why the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 on Jan. 13, 2020 conducted random drug testing of its personnel.

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chiefs, said 161 personnel from the PRO-6 regional headquarters underwent random drug testing “as part of the focused directive of PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa on PNP internal cleansing campaign.”

The surprise test was conducted simultaneously in provincial and city police offices, right after the traditional flag raising ceremony Monday.

Pamuspusan said they want at least 25 percent of the total PRO-6 population to undergo drug test in the first quarter of 2020.

The Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO)-6 will lead the unannounced drug tests.

Pamuspusan said personnel will be found positive for drug use will be dismissed from service for conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

From January 2016 to December 2019, five policemen tested positive for illegal drugs. The latest was in Bacolod City during the conduct of a surprise drug test in the first week of December 2019.

Pamuspusan added that field commanders were reminded to conduct their own internal cleansing efforts during their command conference on Jan. 10.

“That was one of my priorities and it hasn’t changed,” he said.

Pamuspusan admitted that a lot has to be done for the PNP to gain public trust.

But a positive Pamuspusan said, “Alam mo ang sabi ni OIC (Lt. Gen. Gamboa), kung bumagsak man ang PNP last year because of other issue, I think we are on the right path in recovering the belief of the people… of the citizenry.”