Two soldiers dismissed

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 18): Two soldiers dismissed

One of the two Army soldiers assigned in Negros Occidental tested positive for the use of drugs, while another arrested at a drug den on April in Murcia, have been dismissed from the military service, Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed Saturday.

The two dismissed Army soldiers, whose identities he has withheld, are also facing criminal charges in court, Delfin said. One of them is about to retire from the military service, he added.

Testing positive for the use of prohibited drugs will mean outright dismissal from the service, he said.

Security forces have begun random drug testing in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's relentless anti-narcotics campaign.

Delfin recalled that four Army soldiers assigned at 3rd Infantry Division were dismissed from the military service for use of prohibited drugs four years ago.

Thirteen soldiers assigned in Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, and two police officers assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office also tested positive for drug use.

Delfin said the random drug testing among soldiers, being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has been ongoing for some time now.

He said that they are more than willing to help the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Police in Negros island, in their anti-drug campaign.

In fact, Delfin said they are scheduled to meet with Chief Supt. Conrado Capa, regional police director of Negros Island, and PDEA officials, on what help they could extend to them.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/July/18/topstory9.htm