10 City Hall workers in Naga drug-positive

CEBU, Philippines – Random drug testing among local government unit employees has started to roll out in the province, targetting City of Naga yesterday where 10 of 70 males yielded positive results for drug use.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong, who volunteered to undergo the screening first but tested negative, recommended six-month suspension for employees who were found positive in the surprise test.

"Ini’g ka human sa suspenso unya mag-negative na, anha pa sila pwede maka-balik (They can report back for work only when after serving their suspension, they will test negative for drugs)," Chiong told The FREEMAN over the phone.

The identities, however, of those who yielded positive remained undisclosed as yesterday's results will still have to be subjected to confirmatory testing.

Even then, Chiong said some of those who underwent the drug test were regular, casual and job order employees, including City Hall drivers and personnel of the motorpool department.

Aside from Chiong, Vice Mayor Delfin Señor and City Councilor Nilo Alinsonurin also surrendered themselves to the drug test, both of whom bore negative results.

Collaboration

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7, in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission, administered the drug test.

Joey Herrera, executive director of CPADAC, confirmed that the test had 10 employees test positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride or more commonly known as "shabu."

He said there were 73 employees originally subjected to the screening who were randomly selected from different offices and departments in the city government. However, only 70 submitted themselves to the examination.

The three who never turned in reportedly fled after knowing the test was to be carried out.

Under the law, any officer or employee found positive for dangerous drugs use shall be dealt with administratively, the offense being a ground for suspension or termination, subject to the provisions of the Labor Code and the Civil Service Law.

Republic  Act  9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 provides for a random drug testing among public officers and employees.

Naga is the first city in the province to conduct drug test in support to Capitol's pursuit to weed out drug users working in the government.