QCPD intensifies random drug testing among its ranks

                By Romeo Ranoco and  Rita Salonga via REUTERS                   

Quezon City, Philippines - The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is intensifying its random drug testing of all cops in Quezon City after PO3 Liberato Pumanes Calda of Taguig City Police tested positive for illegal drugs.

Calda previously denied using illegal drugs, but tested positive in a surprised drug test.

According to QCPD Dir. Police Sr. Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, a drug-user cop may prepare for an announced drug test by refraining from using drugs for a week before the scheduled test.  However, if it is a random drug test, these drug user-cops will have no idea when it will be conducted.

In line with this, Eleazar plans on conducting frequent random drug tests.

In other news, Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management recently conducted its own drug test for 40 of its talents.

Based on the results, Kapamilya artists like Diego Loyzaga, Enrique Gil, Jake Cuenca and the rest who were tested all yielded negative results.

Star Magic’s move was a way of showing support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, said officials of ABS-CBN’s talent management group.

“Results were 100 percent negative for Jake Cuenca, Enrique Gil and Diego Loyzaga and the rest of the Star Magic artists.  Star Magic believes in the efforts of the current campaign to keep our homes and working environments drug-free,” the netowrk’s officials said.