ILOILO City – In a firm show of leadership and transparency, 50 senior officers of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) were subjected to a surprise drug test as part of an intensified internal cleansing campaign.
The officers — including city and provincial directors, regional staff and command group deputies, and force commanders from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 — were summoned to what they believed was an emergency conference at Madia-as Hall in Camp General Martin Teofilo Delgado on Friday, June 27. Instead, they were handed specimen containers.
Regional police director Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan personally led the initiative on June 26 and submitted his own urine sample, setting the tone for accountability and discipline within the ranks.
“This initiative reinforces our commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline. It reflects our support for the Chief, PNP’s core pillar of accountability and modernization,” Ligan said.
PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis confirmed the event’s deliberate secrecy: “It wasn’t a command conference after all, but a surprise drug test for our key officers.”
Ligan stressed that the goal is to demonstrate that PRO-6 is a drug-free organization, and that police should serve as role models in the fight against illegal drugs. “Before we combat illegal drugs in the community, we must make sure our police officers are clean,” he said.
The regional director warned that any senior officer who tests positive will face immediate administrative sanctions.
“This sends a clear message: there is no room for illegal drug use within our organization. The public deserves a police force that is clean and trustworthy — and we must start with ourselves,” he added.
The surprise drug testing is the first step in a wider program. Ligan announced plans to conduct monthly tests until all 9,000-plus PRO-6 personnel across Panay Island are covered.
“I have encouraged all city and provincial directors to begin testing their police chiefs and rank-and-file officers. By the end of the year, everyone should have undergone drug testing,” Ligan said.
Solis also revealed that the next wave of surprise tests will target municipal chiefs of police throughout Western Visayas, in line with national directives under PNP Chief General Nicolas D. Torre III’s emphasis on internal reform and modernization.
As of press time, PRO-6 has not reported any officer testing positive for illegal drugs./PN
