Bacolod: More than 200 personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) underwent random drug testing on Wednesday, with six personnel testing positive in the initial screening, the agency said. Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, stated that the activity aligns with the PCG's Zero Drug Tolerance policy, aiming to eradicate illegal drugs within the organization.
According to Philippines News Agency, the random drug testing was conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and initially yielded six positive results. "Unfortunately, during the initial drug testing, six personnel tested positive. However, they will still undergo a confirmatory test, and once they are found to have violated policies on illegal drug use, they will face administrative charges and be recommended for separation from public service," Auro said in an interview.
Confirmatory tests are necessary before any disciplinary action is taken. PDEA-NIR Assistant Regional Director Marjorie Ballesteros emphasized that positive screening results must be validated through confirmatory testing, as certain medications and other factors may trigger false-positive results. The urine samples from the six personnel will be forwarded to a laboratory in Region 6 for confirmatory testing.
The drug testing forms part of the PCG's anti-drug initiative launched on May 26, during which Coast Guard personnel signed an oath of undertaking and a commitment wall. Auro mentioned that the PCG has 1,137 personnel across the region. Most of those tested were assigned in Negros Oriental, while others came from Siquijor and Negros Occidental. Another round of random drug testing will be conducted in the coming months to cover the remaining personnel.
Auro expressed gratitude to PDEA-NIR, headed by Director Melvin Estoque, for facilitating the activity, which was the first random drug testing for PCG personnel in the region. PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led Coast Guard personnel nationwide in taking a public oath and signing affidavits of undertaking, reaffirming their commitment to a drug-free organization.
