Capitol employee risks suspension for evading drug test

CEBU, Philippines - A member of Capitol's Civil Security Services Division may face suspension after evading the surprise drug test Tuesday.

Loy Anthony Madrigal, Capitol's chief of security, said he has referred the incident to the province's Committee on Discipline and Investigation chaired by Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino and recommended that the employee be suspended preventively.

Capitol is withholding the employee's name pending investigation.

Madrigal said the same employee who was assigned formerly at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center also 'escaped' the drug test conducted there.

"Kagahapon (Tuesday) he was informed about sa drug test but misibat na sab. In my office, I will not tolerate that," Madrigal told reporters.

The CSU member was reportedly not given any assignment on that day.

Only 57 of the 72 Capitol employees chosen for the surprise drug test underwent the process and all of them were cleared of drug use. They are assigned at the CSSD, Provincial Engineering, Provincial General Services, Provincial Treasurer and the Legislative Department and were chosen through a computer-generated random selection process.

Aside from the employee who evaded the test, CPADAC's record showed that the others who failed to undergo the test were either on leave or out of town or have already resigned from Capitol.

The sixth round of drug test held Tuesday was part of the series of surprise drug test in the provincial government, in line with Capitol's pursuit to weed out drug users.

CPADAC Executive Director Joey Herrera explained that employees who refuse to heed the order may be suspended six month if proven to have committed gross subordination.

Insubordination is a disobedience to a direct and specific order. It has s a lesser offence than gross insubordination, which can be committed by an employee who deliberately declines to follow instructions and orders. — (FREEMAN)