Cop caught in drug session found to have psychosis

The Philippine National Police is looking into the mental health of a police officer who was caught in a pot session last Thursday.

PNP Spokesperson Dionardo Carlos confirmed to CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday that Supt. Lito Cabamongan had been found to have psychosis.

"According to the (neuro-psychiatric test) result, (may) psychosis. We will look at the health service," said Carlos. "The neuropsychiatric session will now determine his mental state."

Psychosis is a condition where the patient's mental state has lost contact with external reality, and can be characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders, among other symptoms.

It is sometimes a precondition to other mental disorders such as schizophrenia or Alzheimer's disease. However, it can also be induced by psychoactive drugs, including methamphetamine.

Cabamongan and a female companion were arrested after being caught using methamphetamine, or shabu, at a house in Las Piñas City.

Related: Police officer arrested for using illegal drugs

After Cabamongan tested positive for drugs, Carlos said they had to wait for the results of a confirmatory test.

Related: Crime Lab ready for investigation on alleged ‘recycling’ of drug evidence

Carlos adds, it has yet "to be determined", if Cabamongan's mental state was brought about by drug use. However, it was previously reported that the evaluation showed "psychosis secondary to substance abuse."

"Yung condition, mapapalala [The condition worsens] if you are using illegal drugs, which we found out he is positive in," Carlos added.

Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas, spokesperson of the National Capital Region Police Office, added that

"We normally submit them to the proper medical care, but they're also declared psychologically unfit," she explained. "So we remove them from service."

However, she noted that PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa already ordered for Cabamongan's removal, and he is already facing a case.

"The filing of an administrative case is tantamount to dismissal from service," Molitas added.