Aklan cops undergo surprise drug test

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

To ensure policemen are not using prohibited drugs, personnel of Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) undergone a random drug test on Monday morning. 

The surprise drug test was conducted on orders of Aklan police provincial director Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion. 

PAIDSOTG is the task force assigned to conduct operations against illegal drug trafficking in the municipal boundaries in the province of Aklan.

The drug test was administered for 20 police personnel of PAIDSOTG with the assistance of the Philippine National Police-Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO) at Camp Pastor Martelino in Barangay New Buswang here. 

Aklan SOCO chemist Senior Inspector Alvin Pascual said, “the results of the random drug testing examination by the PNP crime laboratory will be released within 24 hours.”

“If tested positive of using illegal drugs after the screening, the urine sample of a police officer, will be subjected to a confirmatory test,” he added.

The police personnel could also challenge the findings by requesting an accredited laboratory to conduct another examination of the same urine sample.  

Under Republic Act No. 9165, all officers and members of law enforcement agencies and military are required to undergo the yearly mandatory drug test.

It is also prescribed in the Letter of Instruction Kontra Druga Charlie issued two years ago by the PNP to strengthen mechanisms to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the campaign against illegal drugs.