Inanunsiyo ni Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos ang pagtatalaga kay P/Col. Mary Grace Madayag bilang officer-in-charge ng Mandaluyong City Police Station.

Si Madayag ang kapalit ni P/Col. Cesar Gerente na sinibak sa puwesto matapos magpositibo sa isinagawang random drug test ng National Capitol Region Police (NCRPO) kamakailan.

“We welcome our Officer-in-Charge Police Col. Mary Grace Madayag to Mandaluyong City, and at the same time urge our PNP to conduct the strictest of tests and to enforce the highest standards before presenting us with the names of the next possible candidates for Mandaluyong’s Chief of Police in order to avoid a similar issue in the future,” pahayag ni Abalos, na residente rin ng siyudad.

Samantala, si Gerente ay inilagay sa kustodiya ng NCRPO Personnel Holding and Accounting Section habang hinihintay ang resulta ng confirmatory test na isinagawa ng Police Crime Laboratory Service (PCLS) sa kaniyang urine samples.

Isinuko na rin ni Gerente ang kanyang service pistol at inatasan din itong magsumite ng letter of explanation sa kanyang superiors.

“While it is unfortunate that our former Chief of Police, Col. Cesar Gerente, tested positive for drug use, we understand that these surprise drug tests promote the highest standards among our police force,” ani Abalos.

Si Col. Madayag ay dating nakatalaga sa PNP National Headquarters sa Camp Crame, Quezon City, ayon sa police officials.

(Photo courtesy of Phlippine National Police)