PNP orders probe, dismissal process of 2 police rookies over drug abuse

Philippine National Police's top cop PGen. Debold Sinas has ordered the pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against two non-commissioned police officers who were found positive for drug use.

"If left undetected, these two police rookies will continue with their drug use and perhaps influence others. They will have to go because there is no place for addicts in the PNP,"  the PNP chief was quoted as saying in a news brief sent to media on Sunday.

On orders of the Chief PNP,  Patrolman Reyland Lacap Intal of Olongapo City Mobile Force Company, and Patrolman Benhur S. Ismael of the 2nd Sulu Provincial Mobile Force Company have been disarmed and placed under restrictive custody by their respective units while investigation is underway.

Intal was confirmed positive for marijuana use during a random drug test conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory on 397 out of 422 personnel of Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) on January 15, 2021.

Also, the news brief indicated that random test among OCPO personnel was undertaken immediately after the arrest of four other officers during a raid conducted by a joint PNP-Criminal Investigation Group and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that led to the discovery of a kitchen-type clandestine drug laboratory in Subic.

Meanwhile, in Sulu, a crime laboratory chemistry report showed Patrolman Ismael positive for meth (shabu) after screening and confirmatory tests that were completed on January 14, 2021.

Both Intal and Ismael are facing administrative cases filed before their respective regional investigative bodies. —LBG, GMA News