17 MORE CITY COPS UNDERGO DRUG TEST

THERE is no result yet on the August 6 mandatory drug test conducted on 88
members of the Dagupan City police force.

This is despite an earlier disclosure of Chief Insp. Elimer Catabay,
director of the Pangasinan police crime laboratory, that the result could
be issued within three or four days after the drug test.

Catabay said that no matter how the forensic chemist wanted to facilitate
the examination of urine samples taken from the policemen, there were too
many court orders for her appearance at the courts.

"Attending to court duties is mandatory," he said.

Catabay made this disclosure after he and Imelda Ubando conducted a drug
test last Monday on 17 of the 30 remaining city policemen who failed to
undergo the previous test.

City Police Chief Noli G. Talino said the 17 cops were those who attended
to their court duties on cases filed against apprehended criminal elements.

Talino said the 13 other policemen are undergoing a training-seminar at the
regional police headquarters and are to graduate by September.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director Mario Sandiego assured that he would
make the names of policemen who would fail the drug test public.

"We will be transparent," he said.

But he said the revelation of the names of those found positive of drug
substances would be after the test result shall have been confirmed.

As to the three Urdaneta City policemen found positive of drug use,
Sandiego said they are undergoing summary dismissal proceedings at the
police regional office in San Fernando City in La Union.

The policemen are SPO4 Gerardo T. Ormilla, SPO1 Jesus S. Labuan Jr. and PO3
Randy R. Mergado. FPM