Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 Author: Elena L. Aben Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) COPS WARNED OF DISMISSAL IF TESTED POSITIVE FOR DRUG USE Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, concurrent chair of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), has warned that starting this year, any member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who will test positive for use of illegal drugs will be immediately dismissed from the service This, he said, is what have been agreed upon by PNP chief, Director General Edgardo Aglipay and Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) chief, Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon. In his report to Reyes, who is also chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), De Leon said that he and the PNP chief have agreed that the concerned police officer will first be suspended from the service. As soon as a confirmatory test will prove that he is indeed a drug user, he will be fired from the service and stripped of any government benefits due him for grave misconduct. According to the AIDSOTF commander, the PNP chief also directed him to review the cases of some members of the 114,000-strong police force, particularly those assigned in anti-narcotics units who were dismissed for violation of the anti-dangerous drugs law but managed to get back into the service. "We will be conducting an inventory of these policemen in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)," De Leon said. De Leon went on to say that he and Aglipay have also agreed to implement a one-strike and you're out policy when it comes to use of illegal drugs among policemen. "Once a policeman tests positive for use of illegal substance such as shabu or marijuana, he will immediately undergo rehabilitation and summary dismissal proceedings," he said. "There is no place for addict policemen in the PNP. This is part of our program to rid the organization of misfits and scalawags," he stressed. The AIDSOTF commander said that in coordination with the PDEA, they will be reviewing the cases of policemen dismissed from the service for involvement in illegal drug activities - either as protectors, traffickers or users - since the PNP was created in 1991. He added they would be checking on the background of policemen notorious for involvement in illegal drug activities but have managed to remain in the service despite grave criminal and administrative cases slapped against them in the past. - ---