Let drug positive workers undergo rehabilitation

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils is urging its member barangay captains to encourage employees of their barangays who test positive for drug use to undergo rehabilitation.

The call came after a report that almost 200 barangay employees have tested positive for drug use and only 24 have undergone rehabilitation provided by the city government.

“Yes, ato gyud ng gi-advise sa mga barangay captains to encourage them (barangay employees) nga mo undergo sa rehabilitation as recommended by COSAP (City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention),” ABC President Philip Zafra said.

He said public servants who violate the law projects a very negative image to their constituencies.

Zafra, the barangay captain of Tisa, assured that the barangay captains are monitoring their employees who are found positive of drug use. He suggested that the appointment of barangay workers must be renewed every three months and the employees must undergo a drug test and pass it before they can be reappointed.

“Dili lang ni pag-recommend ako but I also set as an example in my barangay. Ako gipakita sad nako nila (other barangay captains),” Zafra said.

Alice Utlang, chief of COSAP, said the city government cannot force those found positive of drug use to undergo rehabilitation.

“Dili man ta makapugos nila kay voluntary man ang magpa-rehabilitate,” Utlang said.

Section 54 Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 states that “a drug dependent or any person may, by himself/herself or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, apply to the Board or its duly recognized representative, for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug dependency. Upon such application, the Board shall bring forth the matter to the Court which shall order that the applicant be examined for drug dependency.”

Section 61 of the law also provides that “any person determined and found to be dependent on dangerous drugs shall, upon petition by the Board or any of its authorized representative, be confined for treatment and rehabilitation in any Center duly designated or accredited for the purpose.”

Based on the law, “a petition for the confinement of a person alleged to be dependent on dangerous drugs to a center may be filed by any person authorized by the Board with the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where such person is found.”

“Mas maayo gyud nga sila ang moduol namo. Kay dili man gud ta kapugos sa tawo nga magbag-o. We are here to help them. Kay og sa private sila nga rehabilitation center very expensive kaayo. Atong purpose nga sa sayo pa mabag-o sila,” Utlang added.

Based on reports, most of the barangay captains in the city will let a certain barangay employee positive to drugs work again in the barangay after he or she undergoes rehabilitation.

Utlang clarified, though, that all residents of the city – not just government employees – can avail of the free rehabilitation offered by the city government. —/JMO (FREEMAN)