Barangay workers tested positive for drugs now 173

CEBU, Philippines - Six more barangay workers in Cebu City were tested positive for illegal drug use yesterday bringing the total number of employees found positive to 173 out of the 4,022 subjected to surprise drug test since last year.

Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, said the latest batch of drug positive employees came from Barangays Pasil and Busay. Utlang said there were already 50 out of the 80 barangays in Cebu City that they have visited and subjected its officials and employees to surprise drug testing.

Utlang said COSAP personnel visited Barangay Pasil yesterday morning and subjected 76 workers to a drug test upon the request of Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio. The barangay has over 80 personnel but only 76 were present during the drug test. Two barangay tanods and three other workers were tested positive.

Guioguio, a neophyte barangay captain, told The Freeman that he wants the five workers terminated to serve as lesson to other employees.  Pasil is one of the coastal barangays in Cebu City which the police categorized as seriously affected by illegal drugs because of the presence of several drug personalities.

Another surprise drug test was conducted by COSAP personnel in Barangay Busay yesterday afternoon. The drug test was also upon the request of Barangay Captain Amilo Lopez. Utlang said there were 54 workers tested but only one, a tanod, was found positive. 

Mayor Michael Rama earlier suggested that the barangay officials should not tolerate employees found to be drug users. In fact, Rama terminated all nine City Hall employees that were tested positive for drugs.—(FREEMAN)