MANILA – The chief of police of Mandaluyong City has been relieved from his post after testing positive for illegal drugs.

Col. Cesar Gerente yielded positive results during a random drug test with top officials of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), along with other commanders and chiefs of different offices and support units on Aug. 24.

Based on the copy of the dated Aug. 27 obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday, Col. Mary Grace Madayag replaced Gerente as the city’s acting chief of police.

Gerente has been assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section under the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division of NCRPO for further investigation on administrative charges.

Following the incident, the NCRPO ordered all 497 personnel of the Mandaluyong City Police Station to submit to a random drug test on Aug. 28, all of whom yielded negative results.

NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, meanwhile, said random drug testing seeks to weed out drug-using police officers within their ranks.

“I will not tolerate scalawags in NCRPO especially those who are involved in illegal drug activities, sinisiguro kong may kalalagyan kayo (you will be at your right place). Patuloy ang NCRPO sa paglilinis sa aming hanay para sa tapat at marangal na serbisyong publiko (NCRPO continues to clean up our ranks for honest and honorable public service,” Nartatez said in a statement.

Nartatez reiterated that the surprise drug test focuses on integrity enhancement, one of the five-focus agenda of PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. which is aimed at strengthening internal disciplinary mechanisms to prevent and address corruption and other negativities among ranks.

This also promotes transparency in our police operations and ensures that the personnel will adhere to the highest ethical standards, Nartatez said.

The five police districts under NCRPO are the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Southern Police District, and Eastern Police District. (PNA)