Former Mandaluyong Police department chief Colonel Cesar Gerente reiterated that he was not a drug user or an addict in an exclusive interview by Marisol Abdurahman on “24 Oras” Thursday.
Gerente said that he was also surprised by the positive result of his drug test on August 24, and that he was denied another retest when he asked.
“[Ang sabi ko] i-drug test uli ako. Ang sabi nila, same ihi din naman. Balewala, positive pa rin ‘yun,” he said.
To double-check the results, he underwent another drug test on August 29 with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and a Department of Health-accredited testing center, and on September 6 with the National Bureau of Investigation.
All tests showed negative results.
“I just want to show in good faith na hindi ako gumagamit,” he said.
According to Gerente, he suspected that being exposed to drug evidence and his own maintenance medicine for blood sugar may have affected the earlier results.
He also said that while the current situation has also started to affect his family and career, he still hopes that it will be rectified and his innocence will be proven.
“May nagtext [sa anak ko], ikaw kaano-ano ka ba ng Gerente na adik na hepe ng Mandaluyong? Di nga po ako umuuwi sa aking pamilya, nagtatampo na nga misis ko at mga anak ko,” Gerente said.
“Hindo po ako adik, hindi ako user.” he added.
The PNP has yet to issue another statement on the matter.
PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Wednesday that police officers who tested positive in drug tests will face immediate dismissal.
According to records released by the PNP, more than 500 officers have already been dismissed from the police force since 2016 due to positive drug test results.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News
