Apas officials no show at drug test

CEBU, Philippines - A surprise drug test was conducted supposedly among officials and personnel of Barangay Apas yesterday, but except for barangay captain Ramil Ayuman, the rest of the barangay’s officials were not present during the test.

Jose Felix Lazarte, head of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), said it was no less than Ayuman who requested for the test from Councilor Augustus Pe because he reportedly believes some of his men are using illegal drugs.

The test was supposed to include barangay officials and personnel, but, for unknown reasons, only Ayuman appeared from among the officials.

“Nagtoo man god si Kapitan Ayuman nga dunay mga duha sa iyang tanod nga drug users apan negative man sa drug test,” Lazarte told The Freeman.

The 33 personnel who underwent the test were found negative of using illegal drugs.

Pe, chairman of the City Council’s committee on peace and order and who was designated by Mayor Tomas Osmeña to supervise COSAP, said City Hall will respond to requests from the barangays to conduct surprise drug testing among barangay personnel.

A few weeks ago, the City Council approved Pe’s proposal for the purchase of additional 1,000 drug testing kits to be used in the campaign to rid the city government and barangay employees of drug users.

Lazarte said COSAP has been continuously conducting surprise drug tests among employees of various government offices, barangays and newly-hired government workers.

While City Hall cannot order the barangay to terminate those found to be using illegal drugs, Osmeña said the barangay has the responsibility to act seriously on the matter.

The drug testing is being administered by COSAP in coordination the PNP Crime Laboratory Service.

Earlier surprise drug tests found several personnel of barangays Guadalupe, Cogon-Ramos, Labangon, T. Padilla and Lorega San Miguel to be positive of using shabu. - Rene U. Borromeo/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)