By Jennifer P. Rendon
Disarmed. Restricted. Relieved.
Administrative measures were already imposed against a policeman who failed a drug test done weeks ago.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) confirmed that Staff Sergeant Ildefonso de la Cruz has already been relieved from the Station Drug Enforcement Team of Dumangas Police Station.
Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said that de la Cuz is now under the restrictive custody of the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City effective March 3, 2021.
De la Cruz’s positive drug test result and his subsequent disarming and restriction were announced on Friday by the PNP national headquarters.
The PNP, in its Facebook page, said that PNP chief General Debold Sinas announced that de la Cruz will undergo pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings after screening.
IPPO records showed that 38-year-old de la Cruz was previously assigned at the Mandurriao Police Station in Iloilo CIty until April 2020 where he was downloaded to IPPO.
He’s been in the service for around 12 years already.
After his Iloilo City stint, de la Cruz was then assigned to Maasin Police Station until Dec. 20, 2020 wherein he was transferred to be part of the anti-drug unit of Dumangas PNP.
“He was subjected to a random drug test last December 27. The result was negative,” Gorero said.
On Feb. 18, 2021, Gorero said they again subjected all 344 members of the IPPO Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and SDE teams to under around round of drug test.
De la Cruz’s urine specimen labeled with alphanumeric code RDT-IP-864-2021, was initially screened by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 6 (RCLO-6) in Iloilo City.
This time around, de la Cruz was found positive for the presence of methamphetamine, a dangerous drug.
The same specimen was subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer instrument test at the PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame, which confirmed the presence of Methamphetamine.
All other 343 policemen hurdled the drug test.
As this developed, Gorero said that the IPPO Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit already directed de la Cruz to challenge the result within 15 days upon receipt of complaint.
