CAMP MACABULOS, Tarlac City – Newly-installed Tarlac Police Provincial Office (TPPO) director Senior Supt. Ritchie Medardo Posadas directed Wednesday all the 133 personnel here to undergo mandatory drug testing as part of internal cleansing within their ranks.
Posadas said subjected for drug testing include himself, 10 police commission officers, 110 non-commission officers and 12 non-uniform personnel.
The mandatory drug test schedule will not be announced and will excuse no one even those in detailed status while those who are on-leave have been directed to report immediately for the drug examination.
Posadas said he wants that all his men, whether in uniform or not, be declared clear of using illegal drugs so as not to mar the police operations of the TPPO, although operation against illegal drugs is no longer a police matter.
The new top cop drug testing initiative hopes to be followed soon by all police units and stations all over the province that consists of more than 1,500 policemen and policewomen.
Last year, the TPPO personnel also underwent drug test during the start of project Double Barrel and no one was declared positive from illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, in line with the Oplan Lambat Sibat of the Philippine National Police, Posadas revealed that at least 127 persons were arrested in the entire province since January 30, this year.
Posadas said out of 127 persons put behind bars, 85 of them were apprehended by virtue of warrant of arrests while the rest were caught while in the act of committing specific offense.(PNA) FPV/ZST/EGUTIERREZ#