URDANETA CITY – The entire 95- member police force here underwent a surprise random drug testing based on a directive of the police regional office amid public suspicions that a number of its personnel are in fact drug-users.

Police chief Supt. Paquito Navarette said the results of the tests will be made public soon as the results released by the Crime Laboratory here which conducted the random drug testing.

Navarette, who has just assumed his post a week ago, said that although  he and Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. have earlier made plans to subject their policemen to drug testing as part of their cleansing process, the plan  was overtaken by a surprise visit of Sr. Supt. Nicanor  Casaclang, deputy regional director for administrative.

Casaclang announced the order for a random testing upon his arrival.

Navarette said from all indications, he is confident that no one among his men would be found positive for tests.

“They were all very willing to undergo the test and presented their urine samples individually to preclude switching,” he added.      

Nonetheless, administrative and criminal cases will be filed against those who will be found positive even after undergoing a confirmatory test.

Meanwhile, combined elements of police here, San Carlos City, Manaoag, Dagupan City, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), regional  police and provincial police groups swooped down on suspected drug dens in  Poblacion, Nancayasan, Nancamaliran and Camantiles this city and in barangay Linmansangan, Binalonan town in simultaneous raids with search warrants Thursday noon.

Several shabu residues and paraphernalia were seized from 11 suspects in this city while others managed to escape.

The team was led by Superintendents Noli Taliño, provincial intelligence officer and Rolando Magno, head of Special Operations Group and Chief Inspector Christopher Abrahano of PDEA.

 
The Binalonan raid also yielded 88.2 grams of marijuana in the premises of one Rodolfo Catabay. – EVA

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