Caraga police chief undergoes drug testing

Police officials in the Caraga region (Region 13) have undergone regular drug testing, with the director of Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13), Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano Magistrado IV, leading the initiative alongside members of the regional command group, heads of offices, and camp-based personnel at Camp Col. Rafael C. Rodriguez in Libertad, Butuan City. The testing, conducted on Tuesday, is part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) continuous internal-cleansing program and its mandatory drug-testing policy for police personnel in Region 13. Magistrado emphasized that all members of the police organization, regardless of rank or position, are subject to the same standards of accountability. The Regional Forensic Unit 13 administered the tests at the PRO-13 Administration Building lobby, following established forensic protocols and PNP guidelines to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of the results. Magistrado warned that personnel found violating PNP policies or laws involving illegal drugs would face appropriate administrative and criminal charges. "This simultaneous drug testing sends a clear message that there is no place in the organization for police personnel involved in illegal drugs," he stated. PRO-13 said the regular drug testing aims to strengthen internal discipline, maintain public trust, and ensure that police personnel uphold professional and ethical standards. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo