SK councilor ‘positive’ in drug test

CEBU, Philippines — A  Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) official of Danao City tested positive of illegal drug use in a surprise drug test conducted last July 8.

Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) Chief Carmen Ivy Remedios Durano - Meca said that he was the only one who tested positive among the 55 barangay and SK officials who underwent the drug test.

But Meca said she has yet to check the form of the SK official if he indicated that he is under medication as this could lead to “false positive”.

His urine sample was sent to Manila for a confirmatory test and results will be available in two to three weeks.

If the confirmatory test result is also positive, the case will be referred to the Department of the Interior and Local Governance (DILG).

Meca said that the concerned individual will have to be assessed by the Department of Health (DOH) to determine the degree of addiction.

As part of the Civil Service Commission guidelines, the individual will be advised for an outpatient treatment program if he is classified as low or mid-risk.

However, he will be advised to take an inpatient treatment program if he is assessed with severe drug dependency.

If he will not voluntarily subject himself to a treatment program, an administrative case may be filed against him.

Meca said it is the first time that an SK official tested positive of drug use since the new officials assumed office last July 1.

Aside from Danao City, the CPADAO also held a surprise drug test in Dumanjug town last July 5 where all 171 barangay officials tested negative.

Last July 9, 139 members of the local government unit, police and Bureau of Fire Protection in Cordova town underwent a surprise drug test and no one tested positive.

CPADAO also recently conducted a drug test in Naga City. One of the 65 LGU employees tested positive of drug use while no one of the 21 employees of the city’s Bureau of jail Management and Penology (BJMP) tested positive. (FREEMAN)