The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is firm on findings that former Mandaluyong City police chief Col. Cesar Gerente tested positive for illegal drugs.
Gerente claimed however that he had negative results in a separate drug tests.
NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas asserted that the confirmatory drug tests should use the same specimen used in the initial test.
“Earlier nagsalita ang direktor for investigation purposes. Ang tatanggapin na challenge results is yung same specimen na kinuha sa kaniya noong August 24 (The director for investigation has spoken. We will admit results from the same specimen taken from him (Gerente) on August 24),” Salas told Teleradyo Serbisyo.
She said test results from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) do not count, adding that Gerente tested positive in a confirmatory test.
“We have received his intention the forensics unit that he already has a request to challenge the result but he put the third party PDEA and the PDEA because, he is not accredited by the DOH so we are waiting for other third party to say where to conduct the he challenged,” she said, adding that Gerente allegedly used a different specimen for his PDEA drug test.
Salas maintained however that it’s Gerente’s right to submit what results he wants to submit.
“But for challenging the results, the same urine specimen will actually be used for it to be admissible,” Gerente said.
Gerente said he has until Monday to challenge the results.
Gerente, along with 25 other police officers, were facing charges, which also included dismissal from police service. They are currently under restrictive custody.
