DAVAO CITY - Police and military personnel of the city were subjected to a surprise drug testing on Monday following Mayor Sara Duterte's aim to protect the city and its investments.
"The drug testing is part of the peace and order program of the government since we invest in the Task Force Davao (TFD) and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO)," Duterte said.
She also wanted to know if the police and army are equipped.
"If they engage in drug use then their work is questionable," Duterte said.
She further said that the interest of the city cannot be disassociated from the performance of these personnel because of the regular funding provided to these units.
Under Article 3, Section (e) of Republic Act (RA) 9165 provides that "officers and members of the military, police and other law enforcement agencies - officers and members of the military and other law enforcement agencies, shall undergo an annual mandatory drug test."
As this developed, Duterte disclosed that the intensification of programs against illegal drugs will be of utmost priority under her administration.
"The Davao City government program against drugs is of utmost priority for the next three years and a component program is to implement the policy to ensure that officers and members of the Davao City Police Office and Task Force Davao shall be strictly drug-free to provide them the unquestioned command in the performance of their duties and enforcement of the law," she said.
It was learned that the result of the drug testing will also form part of the baseline database of the city for research and development programs.
The TFD and DCPO personnel were required to submit their urine samples on Tuesday otherwise they would be asked to give a written example why they failed to submit.
Since the conduct of the drug testing was a surprise, Duterte said that only her; Col. Oscar Lactao, commander of the TFD; Police Senior Supt. Rene Aspera, chief of the DCPO; and the owner of the drug testing center knew of the drug testing.
