A total of 523 personnel of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) and its Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Davao del Norte had been subjected to mandatory tests for illegal drugs.
But the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has yet to release the results.
The mandatory drugs tests program “is in line with the BuCor’s campaign for a Drug-Free Work Place and in strict compliance with the Quality Policy of the Bureau of Corrections, Republic Act No. 9165 on the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002 and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” BuCor said.
It said the activity that was held starting last March 1 “conveys the message that as men and women from the uniformed service, we should be the primary element to set standards worthy of emulation.”
“The use of illegal and prohibited drugs is a serious concern in our society as it leads to substance dependency which poses dangers not only to the users but to the community. It may also lead to social, physical, emotional, and work-related problems. Hence rules and regulations have been issued by the government for strict compliance of all its agencies and the general public,” it said in a statement.
Aside from the personnel, BuCor said that a random drugs tests were also conducted on some persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). However, it did not say how many PDLs were tested.
It pointed out that on top of adhering to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DBB) regulations and the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), the bureau assured that the United Nations Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and guidelines of the Commission on Human Rights were observed in the conduct of the drug tests for inmates.
The drugs tests were conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Davao del Norte and the Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office (PHO), it said.