'Bato' Dela Rosa: Police officials who fail drug test will be fired

Keeping in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's vow to rid the Philippine National Police of scalawags, Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said Friday police officials who tested positive for illegal drug use will surely lose their jobs.

"Automatic, matatanggal sa serbisyo," Dela Rosa said when asked during a "24 Oras" interview about the matter.

The newly minted PNP chief himself took the mandatory drug testing.

Government employees found positive for use of dangerous drugs will have to undergo disciplinary/administrative proceedings with a penalty of dismissal from the service, according to Memorandum Circular No. 13 issued by the Civil Service Commission in 2010.

Upon his assumption to office earlier in the day, Dela Rosa called on policemen who have ties to the illegal drug trade to surrender within 48 hours.

He said his cleansing efforts will be relentless and warned to change the erring cops’ birthday to November 2, All Souls’ Day, if they will continue with their illicit transactions.

“This has to stop right now or I will stop you from enjoying your evil life. I promise you, change is coming include your birthday, which will be changed to November 2,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa has been Duterte's partner in combating drugs and criminality in Davao City since 1986. Duterte has served as Davao City mayor for many terms. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News