Some 677 police personnel in Negros Oriental have been randomly chosen for drug testing, an official said.

Captain Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), said at a press conference at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town that this was the second batch of police personnel to undergo random drug testing.

The first batch of 295 police personnel, including non-uniformed personnel (NUP), was tested last month.

“The surprise drug tests will include all uniformed personnel, including officers, and NUPs, and will be done in batches, in relation to a directive from higher headquarters,” Polinar said.

The ongoing drug tests involved personnel from various police stations and other NORPPO units, such as the Provincial Mobile Force Companies, he added.

Polinar said the surprise drug tests will determine if a police personnel is using illegal drugs, particularly shabu, which stays in the body for about 72 hours.

NORPPO currently has a total workforce of 1,680 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.

According to Polinar, even ranking officials will be covered by the random drug testing.

He mentioned that the random drug tests are also part of the ongoing investigation in the deaths of three policemen and a woman working at a bar in Sibulan town, who were killed in separate but related shooting incidents last January.

A police officer, who was arrested after shooting the victims, was reportedly being investigated for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Polinar said results of the drug tests are confidential but assured that proper action will be taken, such as the filing of an administrative case against those who will test positive for drug use. (PNA)