Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jul 2003
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://dgte.mozcom.com/visayandailystar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Gilbert Bayoran

HINIGARAN MAYOR, COPS TAKE DRUG TESTS

Mayor Caroll Guanco led the 23 policemen, two councilors, and eight 
government employees and officials, in Hinigaran, who underwent drug 
testing by the PNP Crime Laboratory yesterday.

Forty-eight policemen of La Carlota City also went through similar drug 
tests, bringing to 461 the number of policemen in Negros Occidental have 
been subjected to mandatory drug testing.

Hinigaran Councilors Edgar Lagtapon and Raul Pajarillo and three members of 
the Bureau of Fire and Protection joined Guanco and town policemen in the 
drug testing.

PNP provincial police director Vicente Ponteras yesterday said the result 
of the drug testing of 33 Talisay policemen will be known this week.

Ponteras said he hopes to complete the drug testing of more than 1,300 
policemen in Negros Occidental, this year.

No policeman has tested positive for prohibited drugs at the PNP Crime 
Laboratory so far.

The launching of a drug testing program for members of the police force has 
been ordered by President Arroyo.

The 27 police chiefs and mobile group directors of Negros Occidental also 
recently tested negative for prohibited drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens