COTABATO CITY (January 7) — Over 800 police officers at Camp S.K. Pendatun, headquarters of the Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), underwent a surprise drug test Monday as part of the regional police’s ongoing drive to professionalize the force, strengthen discipline, and build public confidence—key pillars of peace and security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
The unannounced testing, personally supervised by Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, regional director of the Philippine National Police in BARMM, covered all personnel assigned to the headquarters and its attached units.
Officers who test positive will be temporarily restricted inside the camp pending confirmatory results, after which administrative or legal measures will be applied as warranted.
“This initiative is part of PRO-BAR’s commitment to uphold discipline, integrity, and public confidence in law enforcement,” De Guzman said.
“The surprise drug test is not just a procedural exercise—it is a tangible step in ongoing security-sector reform to ensure that our police force is accountable, professional, and trusted by the communities we serve.”
Embedding reform in everyday policing
The drug test is part of a broader effort to professionalize law enforcement in the Bangsamoro region.
PRO-BAR has been implementing community policing programs, human rights and ethics training, and leadership development courses to improve operational accountability and strengthen relations with local communities.
Coordinated with the Bangsamoro government and civil society groups, these reforms aim to make transparency, discipline, and ethical conduct standard practice for police officers in a post-conflict environment.
Security analysts say these initiatives are critical in BARMM, where public trust in the police is essential for long-term peace and stability.
By integrating discipline measures, community engagement, and capacity-building programs, PRO-BAR is positioning itself as a model for subnational police reform, signaling that professionalization and accountability are central to regional security.
De Guzman added that the testing is a New Year’s initiative to reinforce internal standards. “I am confident our police officers are not using illegal drugs,” he said. “But this test will provide objective proof and set the tone for 2026: a year of integrity, discipline, and credible law enforcement for BARMM.”
