SEND OFF. Maj. Alexander Pardo, Regional Chaplain at the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PROCor) on Oct. 23, 2023 blesses the troops sent off to their respective assignment to perform election duty. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa on Friday (Aug. 16, 2024) said requiring police and military officers to undergo drug test and psychiatric examination to acquire a gun license is redundant. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
MANILA – Requiring police and military officers to undergo drug test and psychiatric examination to acquire a gun license is redundant, according to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.
The former top cop agreed with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Rommel Marbil, that the policemen and soldiers have already undergone such tests before entering the service and continue to do so on a regular basis.
"Ang reason kung bakit in-exempt sila kasi redundant na nga yan on their part because hindi naman sila magiging sundalo o pulis kung hindi sila nakapasa (The reason why they are exempted is because it is redundant on their part because they will not become soldiers or policemen if they did not pass) all those tests," Dela Rosa said in a virtual press conference Friday.
Requiring them to undergo drug tests and psychiatric examinations would also be "economically unwise," he said.
"Ang yayaman lang diyan ay ‘yung mga may-ari ng testing laboratories. Practical lang tayo. Meron naman silang ganyan palagi (The only ones who will get rich are the owners of the testing laboratories. We just have to be practical. They do that regularly)," Dela Rosa said.
Marbil issued a memorandum dated July 16 announcing that active military and police personnel no longer need to undergo drug tests and psychological evaluations for gun permits since they are already trained as responsible firearm holders.
Service-related drug tests and psychological evaluations, together with identification cards from their organizations, will suffice as requirements for gun permits, the memorandum stated. (PNA)
