A police officer who heads the anti-drug unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) is now facing dismissal proceedings after testing positive for illegal drug use.
In a news statement issued on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said he has already ordered the conduct of a precharge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against Maj. Jivertson D. Pelovello, head of the ZCPO’s City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).
“Anybody who will test positive for drug use does not deserve to stay in the service any minute longer,” he said.
Pelovello has been placed under restrictive custody and was reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of Police Regional Office 9 while the precharge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings against him are ongoing.
Sinas said Pelovello was among the 60 personnel of the ZCPO, including 12 CDEU personnel who underwent drug testing by the Regional Crime Laboratory Office last December 18, 2020, where he tested positive.
A subsequent drug test on January 6 showed that he was again found positive for drug use.
Police Regional Office 9 Director Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Ylagan, meanwhile, reported that Pelovello has been disarmed of his issued firearms and slapped with corresponding administrative charges.