MANILA, Philippines – Where are your excuses now?

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa took a drug test on Friday, July 1, mere hours after he was officially installed as the country’s top cop.

Dela Rosa, who assumed the post a day after President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration, said he did it as a show of transparency. (READ: Dela Rosa warns cops involved in drugs: ‘You have 48 hours’)

“S’yempre, to be transparent to show everyone na ako mismo ay drug-free. Para lahat sila walang rason ang pulis sa baba na hindi magpa-drug test. Ako nga, nagpa-drug test; sila, hindi?” said Dela Rosa, after taking the test.

(Of course, to be transparent and to show everyone that I’m drug-free myself. So the police on the ground don’t give reasons not to take a drug test. I’m taking a drug test. Why won’t they?)

It’s been an action-packed day for Dela Rosa. In the morning, he was installed into office and promoted from one to 4-star general. He then joined a command conference with the PNP’s top officials.

After noon, Dela Rosa joined Duterte to witness the change-in-command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo. By 4:30 in the afternoon, Dela Rosa held another command conference with his team of officials.

Other top PNP officials – the command group, the directorate staff, regional chiefs, and national support unit chiefs – also underwent a drug test Friday afternoon.

Curbing the spread of illegal drugs is among the key missions of the PNP under Duterte and Dela Rosa. Stopping – or “supressing” – crime and illegal drugs in 3 to 6 months was a key promises during Duterte’s campaign. – Rappler.com