Cops positive for
drugs face dismissal

Region 6 police director Isagani Cuevas yesterday said policemen who tested positive for drug use and found guilty during pre-charge evaluation proceedings, face dismissal from the police service.

Cuevas made the stern warning after the drug testing of 120 policemen assigned in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, and 200 others assigned at the Iloilo Police Provincial Office.

The PNP Crime Laboratory is expected to release the results of the drug testing of 220 policemen, next week.

Cuevas said more random drug testing will be conducted on other police units in Western Visayas.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco and Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz led their personnel who were subjected to drug tests at the Pana-ad Park in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, and IPPO provincial command headquarters in Iloilo, last week.

PO1 Brenold Jarina, a former member of the Sagay City Police Station, is now facing criminal and administrative charges, after he was arrested for illegal possession of drugs last month in Silay City. He also tested positive for drug use, police records show.

Franco said policemen who test positive for drug use will undergo rehabilitation, and dismissal from the police service if they continue using prohibited drugs.

De la Paz, on the other hand, said any policemen who tests positive for drug use, will be recommended for trial under summary dismissal proceedings.

Cuevas reiterated his call for Western Visayas policemen to pursue the operational thrust of the PNP organization on anti-criminality, internal security operations and anti-terrorism, and to focus on street crimes and organized crime. Those who victimize the marginalized sector should be given attention, he said.

Cuevas said he wants the anti-illegal drugs special operation task force from the regional down to the municipal and city stations, reorganized by removing those who are unfit to perform the job and the anti-organized task units strengthened to address heinous and other high profile crime.

He also organized the Integrity Task Force  to arrest, investigate and file charges against PNP personnel involved in illegal drugs and mulcting or 'kotong'.*GPB

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Man jailed for loose gun;
Wanted person arrested

The Cadiz police station arrested a security guard for illegally carrying a .38 caliber revolver with five live ammunition during the annual fiesta of Brgy. Caduha-an, Cadiz, Negros Occidental recently, a press release from the station said.

Arrested by policemen under the command of Chief Insp. Jefferson Descallar was Ronnie Ojeno, 27, of Hda. Concha, in the barangay, and a security guard employed by ACME Security Agency detailed to a pawnshop in Bacolod City.

Meanwhile, three were arrested for carrying bladed weapons. They were identified as Adonis Soledan, 18, of Sitio Bagroy, Brgy. Burgos, Cadiz; Loreto Tolentino, 18, and Arnel Montecino, 28, both of Sitio Bugtong, Brgy. Tanawan, Kabankalan City, the press release said.

The police also confiscated 10 “vacmacor” or belt knife from the revelers.

Ojeno is now detained at the Cadiz PNP lock-up cell and will be charged with violating Republic Act 8294, or illegal possession of firearms, while the three other suspects will face charges for violation of Batas Pambansa 6, or illegal possession of deadly weapons, the press release added.*

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