NCRPO: 72 police generals, colonels pass surprise drug test

The National Capital Region Police Office said on Sunday that 72 of its generals and colonels passed a surprise drug test.

In a Facebook post, the NCRPO said that its chief, Police Major General Jonnel Estomo, along with the third-level commissioned officers of the police office underwent a surprise drug examination at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan Taguig City.

"The screening test yielded negative results for all the 72 urine samples taken during the surprise drug test." read the Facebook post. "This was confirmed by a report submitted by the PNP Crime Laboratory Field Office based in Camp Bagong Diwa yesterday to the Regional Director."

Furthermore, in line with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos' request that generals and full colonels in the PNP submit their courtesy resignations as part of the effort to rid the police force of officers involved in the illegal drug trade, Estomo signed a courtesy resignation.

"From the beginning, I am with the PNP leadership in cleansing our ranks of drug protectors and scalawags," said Estomo. "As I formerly said that should there be anyone found to be positive of illegal drugs, he is automatically deemed resigned from the service immediately."

He added that random testing would continue to eliminate drug-using cops in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Estomo emphasized that those who tendered courtesy resignations were not drug users.

"This would reinforce the 5-man assessment committee on their evaluation to be carried out. On the other hand, this may serve as a stern warning to all policemen in the region," said the NCRPO chief. — DVM, GMA Integrated News