Drug tests for local execs up to DILG – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang is leaving it to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to compel local government officials to take drug tests.

It is the job of the interior secretary to set the policies and rules to require local officials to take a mandatory drug test, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told reporters in Davao City yesterday.

Local executives like mayors and governors could also order the drug testing for all employees under them, he added.

The fight against illegal drugs and criminality is among the priorities of the Duterte administration.

In a statement from Malacañang, Duterte called on all government workers to be worthy to be called public servants.

“I am watching you,” read the statement.

Duterte has ordered Cabinet members to rid the government of corruption, citing on several occasions the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and the Land Transportation Office as the most corrupt agencies of government.

He named former Western Visayas police director Bernardo Diaz, former National Capital Region police director Joel Pagdilao and former Quezon City police director Edgardo Tinio, who are still on active duty, as protectors of the illegal drug trade. He also identified retired chief superintendent Vicente Loot, now the mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu, and former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo as also giving protection to drug lords.

The five have denied the allegation and surrendered to authorities to clear their names.

At least 35 Quezon City policemen and 32 from the National Capital Region police were reassigned to Mindanao.

Malacañang said citizens could report corrupt officials and practices through 8888, a hotline that will be available 24/7 for citizen complaints starting August.