BACOLOD City – A total of 193 police officers of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), who underwent a surprise drug test on three separate occasions, turned out negative for drug use.
NOCPPO public information officer Major Edison Garcia said the results were released by the Philippine National Police Provincial Crime Laboratory here.
“It shows that the NOCPPO personnel adhere to the mandate of our duty, not engaging in any wrongdoing such as using illegal drugs,” he said.
Of the 193, there were 102 policemen assigned at the provincial headquarters, including Colonel Romeo Baleros, provincial police director, who passed the drug test, along with 60 from the Himamaylan City and 31 from the San Enrique Municipal police stations.
“This is a good indication at the start of the year as we continuously enforce the law to maintain peace and order in Negros,” Garcia said.
Earlier, Baleros said the drug test is part of the internal cleansing program of the NOCPPO in compliance with the “Stronger Police Regional Office-6” strategic directive of Brigadier General Rene Pampuspusan, director of PRO-Western Visayas.
“They were chosen randomly, consisting
of personnel from different sections of NOCPPO. However, the testing on all
personnel of the Drug Enforcement Unit and the Intelligence Branch was
mandatory,” he added./PN
