PNP chief makes surprise visit to QCPD, orders drug test

MANILA, Philippines — Barely a week before the Holy Week break, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa made a surprise inspection and ordered a random drug test Friday on personnel of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal.

Dela Rosa was joined by Police Director Oscar Albayalde of National Capital Region Police Office, QCPD Director Police Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar and other key PNP officials.

Dela Rosa said the suprise inspection was to ensure that all QCPD personnel are accounted for.

“This is for you, to give fairness sa inyo na nagdu-duty, nagpapa-init, nagpapatrolya, nakikipagbarilan sa mga pusher, nakikipaghabulan sa mga holdaper; tapos may mga kasama pala kayo na nasa abroad earning dollars o yen tapos sumasahod pa sa PNP (This is for you, to be fair to all of you who are on duty, sweating while patrolling and shooting it out with pushers, chasing holdup men. Then you’ll learn that you have colleagues who are abroad earning dollars or yen while the PNP is paying for their salaries),” dela Rosa said.

The Chief PNP also called the attention of those policemen who had no firearm, citing the importance of the use of firearms especially when confronted by criminals.

“Whether you like it or not, you are a policeman 24/7. You are policemen every minute of the day and every hour of the day. So you should not be lazy in carrying a firearm. You must be ready to respond to any emergency,” he added.

Meanwhile, Abayalde said policemen who did not report for the accounting will be subjected to pre-charge investigation.

A total of 668 underwent the random drug test facilitated by the QCPD Crime Laboratory.

The District Personnel and Human Resource Development Division (DPHRDD) said that out of the 5,157 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, 4, 829 personnel attended the accounting; and 285 are on leave, undergoing schooling, suspended/sick, AWOL, detained and detailed to other PNP units.

The status of 43 other police officers is still being verified.-Benjamin Pulta/PNA