Philippines — Nine personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard in the Negros Island Region (PCG-NIR) tested positive during a random drug screening conducted on June 17 in Dumaguete City.
The screening was carried out as part of the agency’s implementation of its Zero Drug Tolerance Policy against the use of illegal drugs.
In an interview with Brigada News Dumaguete, Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, said more than 200 personnel underwent testing during the operation.
The random drug screening was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
According to Auro, nine personnel yielded positive results during the initial screening. However, he clarified that all nine individuals will still undergo confirmatory testing to verify the results.
The confirmatory examination is expected to determine whether the initial findings are accurate before any sanctions are imposed.
Auro warned that personnel who are eventually found to have violated the agency’s anti-drug policy could face administrative charges. He added that confirmed violators may also be removed from the service in accordance with existing regulations.
The Coast Guard official emphasized that the agency remains committed to maintaining a drug-free workforce through regular monitoring and enforcement measures.
The recent screening forms part of a broader effort by the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen internal discipline and ensure compliance with its policies against illegal drug use.
The PCG currently has more than 1,100 personnel assigned across the Negros Island Region. Authorities said additional rounds of random drug testing are scheduled to be conducted in the coming months as part of the agency’s continuing anti-drug campaign.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the personnel involved pending the outcome of the confirmatory tests.
