Reinstatement of ‘Drug user’: Tumulak: Village chief’s request “inappropriate”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak yesterday called the attention of Labangon acting barangay captain Zenaida Amores for allegedly requesting that a barangay tanod that tested positive for drug use be retained as he was allegedly not really a user.

Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety, said the request was inappropriate for someone in her station.

“Ako siyang gi-advise nga to refrain doing such statement. She might be liable (for violation) sa Dangerous Drug Act,” he told reporters yesterday.

In her March 23 letter,  Amores stated that the barangay tanod was used by cops as their intelligence asset.

“According to him (barangay tanod), he needs to be involved in illegal drugs sometimes in order to be more credible to the users and get information from them in return since he is being used by the police as an asset,” read the letter.

But Tumulak did not believe this reason, arguing that policemen would not use barangay tanods as informants knowing that they are tasked to maintain peace and order in their villages and are therefore identifiable as enforcer of the law.

Tumulak said it is not the practice of the police to use tanods as their source of intelligence information.

The drug test initiated by Cebu City’s Office of Substance Abuse and Prevention to barangay and city employees and officials is part of the campaign to have a drug-free workplace in the city. In a surprise screening, the tanod tested positive of illegal drugs use.

The campaign was intensified after Mayor Tomas Osmeña decided to use it as one of  basis to give or take back the allowances of barangay tanods and garbage loaders.

The workers underwent an evaluation after Osmeña received reports that a number of them were not doing their duties efficiently.

Last month, Osmeña pulled out their allowances from the city until the outcome of their evaluation is known.

Of the 80 barangays of the city, officials and workers of 30 barangays already underwent the drug test. They were from Buhisan, Calamba, Kalunasan, Labangon, Tisa, Kinasang-an, Guadalupe, Punta Princesa, Pahina San Nicolas,  Pasil, Suba, Banilad, Mambaling, Tinago, San Roque, San Antonio, Kamagayan, Ermita, Sto. Niño, Sambag I, Santa Cruz, Pahina Central,  Sambag II, Inayawan, Quiot, Basak San Nicolas,  Cogon Pardo,  Bonbon, Poblacion Pardo and Talamban. (FREEMAN)