Source: Manila Times + MapInc.org

COPS DUPED INTO TAKING DOPE TEST

Jeannette Andrade

Drug enforcement agents from the National Capital Region ( NCR ) thought it was a symposium they were attending yesterday at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Camp Crame.
 
The 500 agents had been summoned by Narcotics Group ( Nargroup ) to what was billed as a "Symposium on the Metro Manila Drug Situation." They had no idea they were to be tested for drugs.
Once all the agents were in the hall, the doors were shut and Philippine National Police ( the PNP ) Crime Laboratory under Director Marlowe Pedrogosa made preparations for the test.
 
Nargroup Director Efren Fernandez was all for the surprise drug testing.  He said that before the agents can effectively enforce the campaign against drugs, they themselves must be ascertained to be "clean" of shabu and other regulated drugs.
 
At first, Fernandez would not confirm that the symposium was actually a way to make sure the full attendance of the drug operatives.
He only said that the gathering had been called primarily to synchronize the efforts in the anti-drug campaign in Metro Manila.  He, however, hinted of a "cleansing activity" that would be undertaken during the symposium, which was later on discovered to be surprise drug testing of the participants. - "That is actually a principle that the PNP is observing and in fact, that is not only for the start but it is going to be done on a periodic basis.  It is a continuing activity that should be observed by the PNP and the name of the game is perpetual vigilance and we should start within our ranks before we can be counted in this crusade by our people," Fernandez said.
"The cleansing of the PNP is the first activity that we have to do if we are to be relied upon by our people as the frontliners in the campaign against drugs," he said.
He expressed alarm that the drug menace has grown into serious proportions which would require "all the forces and all the resources that we could muster."
 
It was learned that a similar drug test had been undertaken by the Nargroup last Nov.  24 among 300 agents.  Only one agent reportedly failed the test.
The result of yesterday's drug test is expected to be released next week.