No mercy for ‘adik’ cops – Sinas

BY AARON RECUENCO

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas has ordered all regional directors to dismiss within 60 days all policemen who would test positive during random drug tests.

“Starting this year, I have already signed a directive that all cases related to random drug testing should be resolved by the Regional Director immediately. When I was still at the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office), we were able to resolve these cases within 2 months so they should do the same,” said Sinas.

The PNP chief issued the order as he noted that lapses in the observance of due process in the PNP have resulted in erring policemen still enjoying the salary and benefits during the time that they are supposed to be already dismissed from the service.

Citing experience when he was still the Metro Manila police chief, Sinas said he himself was surprised upon finding out that some of those who tested positive for drug use still reported for duty.

He added that there was also one instance when a Metro Manila policeman who tested positive during drug test was still receiving his salary and allowances a year after he was found using shabu.

He said he is now accounting for all those who tested positive starting when he was still the regional director of Central Visayas.

In January this year alone, Sinas revealed that a total of 18 policemen tested positive during the conduct of random drug tests.

“These 18 cases will be a test case for our Regional Directors. By March, I am expecting that these policemen are already dismissed from the service,” said Sinas.

The official said that he had already tasked the Directorate for Police Records and Management to regularly monitor the progress of the cases involving policemen who would test positive in random drug testing.

Those who would fail to comply with the two-month rule, according to Sinas, will face administrative cases.

“We do not want delays. We still observe due process but we have to resolve within two months,” said Sinas.

More than 500 policemen were already dismissed from the service for testing positive in drug test since 2016, PNP records revealed.