A member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Bohol tested positive for drugs during a surprise random target test last week but withheld the identity of the police officer pending results of confirmatory tests.

Police Superintendent Ricky Deliles, Public Information Officer of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) told DYRD Balita that succeeding tests will identify the type of drugs used by the police officer if it falls under legal or illegal substances.

Urine samples were collected from 31 out of the 42 police officers that went through the sudden random testing to nail down those using illicit drugs.

The tough process of testing and detection of police officers using illegal drugs is part of the ongoing “weeding out” program of the BPPO to strengthen the public’s trust towards the police.

However, Police senior Inspector Jojit Manangquil, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the BPPO explained that due process will be strictly observed in the handling of police officers found positive for drug use.

A stringent disciplinary process will be followed if confirmatory tests shows drugs found in the urine falls under illegal substances and the offending officer will be facing dismissal from service, according to Manangquil.

The random drug tests was a prelude to a mandatory drug testing for all police officers that will take place a day after President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will take his oath of office on June 30, 2016.

The BPPO under the leadership of Police Provincial Director, Police Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin is now waging an all out war against all forms of criminality that ended in the arrest or deaths of drug personalities who opted to fight it out with the police. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)