(March 3, 2021) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday announced that one of its lawyers has failed the drug test of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) in Central Luzon.
PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas ordered the immediate relief of Atty. Efren Garcia II and will undergo pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings for alleged grave misconduct.
“Let me reiterate that there is no place in the PNP for any personnel who is into illegal drugs, whether for recreational or habitual use,” said Sinas in a statement.
Garcia tested positive for the presence of shabu after his urine specimen was taken last February 24.
Sinas said the administrative relief of Garcia, chief of the legal affairs division of the IAS in Central Luzon, ensures that the delinquent lawyer will not influence the investigation.
Last January, Sinas said he wants to expand random drug testing for all PNP personnel to totally rid the organization of narcotics. According to the PNP, close to 570 cops have been removed since 2016 for involvement in drugs.
A former PNP officer, meanwhile, was arrested on Tuesday for carnapping and robbery.
Sinas reported that Jhovani Chua was caught in a PNP operation at the Peninsula Garden Midtown Homes in Paco, Manila.
Chua, who already has a warrant of arrest, was formerly assigned to the regional headquarters support unit of the National Capital Region Police Office. He was dismissed from service in 2011.
PNP records showed that in March 2011, Chua and a certain Amiel Arceo hijacked a cargo truck carrying P600,000 worth of canned juice in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan, killing its driver and helper.
In June 2011, another incident of hijacking was initiated by Chua and a certain Joel Samonte on a van loaded with bathroom products worth P380,000 in Barangay NS Amoranto, Quezon City.
“Manhunt operations are still underway to arrest and put behind bars the cohorts of Chua. The PNP will deal with errant cops or ex-cops who give the organization a bad name,” said Sinas.
The PNP has been battling criticism in recent months due to erring personnel and internal blunders. Just last week, the PNP accidentally got involved in a shootout with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in a supposed buy-bust operation in Commonwealth, Quezon City.
Early this year, the Makati PNP got slammed by the public and many lawmakers for the questionable handling of the controversial death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
(With reports from Patricia Mangune, News 5, Kiko Demigillo/PM)
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