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Cebu policeman 47th cop to test positive for shabu this year

A 41-YEAR-OLD policeman from Central Visayas became the 47th member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to test positive for substance abuse this year and will be undergoing summary hearing procedure after being stripped of his service firearm, PNP chief, General Debold M. Sinas said yesterday.

According to the PNP chief, Corporal Manuel Paez of the PRO7 Recruitment and Selection Service, tested positive for shabu during an initial screening of his urine specimen. A confirmatory test using the PNP Crime Laboratory’s GCSM machine yielded the same positive result, Gen. Sinas said.

Following the release of the positive drug result, Paez was stripped of his PNP-issued firearm and badge and was relieved from his unit and transferred to the PRO7 Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit.

Sinas ordered the PNP Internal Affairs Service to fast-track the conduct of pre-charge investigation and summary hearing procedure on the accused.

According to PNP Recruitment and Selection Service director, Colonel Nora Camarao, she was ordered by Sinas to conduct a mandatory drug test on all policemen assigned on RSS Units across the country last December 17.

Sinas said that those who failed to submit themselves to a drug test last December 17 will be facing charges for gross insubordination and will be relieved from their posts.

Camarao said that past 10 a.m. last December 17, Cpl. Paez and his colleagues were ordered to submit their urine specimen before the Regional Crime Laboratory 7 in Cebu City. All but Paez tested negative for shabu and marijuana during the test, she said.

Last week, the PNP chief said that 46 policemen have also tested positive for shabu from January to date, 18 of them from the PNP National Headquarters and 20 from the National Capital Region Police Office.

He said that the latest to test positive for substance abuse were five members of the PNP Special Action Force he identified as Patrolmen Alejandro Espina, Joshua Gaico, Karl del Castillo, Ronel Vista and Bernard Poe Diego.

Two others from the NCRPO identified as Master Sergeant Leonardo Mariano Jr. and Patrolman Ferdinand Nicomedes also turned out to be positive for shabu use during initial screening and a follow-up confirmatory test conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory headed by Brigadier Gen. Steve B. Ludan.

Sinas said he has ordered a thorough investigation into the cases of the five SAF troopers. “We’re conducting an assessment on this. What really happened at bakit limang patrolman ang agad nag-positive for drugs,” he added.