4 SK execs in Cebu confirmed drug users

CEBU, Philippines — Confirmatory tests have revealed that the four Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in Cebu province who initially tested positive in drug tests conducted by the Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) were indeed using illegal drugs.

“We got already the results and all are really confirmed,” said CPADAO head Ivy Durano-Meca.

Two of the four are SK chairmen, while two are SK councilors from the barangays in Danao City, in Carmen town, and in Oslob town.

Meca earlier said that some of those SKs already admitted to using illegal drugs and committed to undergo community-based treatment program.

Based on a memorandum circular of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), elective officials who test positive in confirmatory drug tests will be subject to disciplinary action.

“Any elective public officer who refuses, without any valid reason, to submit himself/herself to authorized drug testing, or is found for drug use after the conduct of a confirmatory test in an authorized drug testing activity shall be subject to disciplinary action for misconduct in office pursuant to Sec. 60 of the Local Government Code and Article 124 (3)of the implementing Rules and Regulations of the  Local Government Code” reads DILG memorandum 2018-213.

Section 3 of Article 124 or the Grounds for Disciplinary Action of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Local Government Code also states that elective officials “may be censured, reprimanded, suspended, or removed from office after due notice and hearing” on the following grounds: “dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence o dereliction of duty.”.

Meca said the DILG has the power to file charges against the SK officials and punish them accordingly.

Jerico Rubio, the SK Federation president in Cebu, earlier urged his colleagues to take a leave from their work after the results of the first drug screening. The FREEMAN tried to contact Rubio for his statement on the new development but to no avail as of yesterday.

He earlier admitted his office has no programs yet as to the campaign against illegal drugs, but last week, he asked CPADAO to conduct random drug tests on 19 SK chapter presidents and all tested negative.

Meanwhile, two tour guides for canyoneering activities in Badian town also tested positive in a recent drug test by CPADAO. Some 248 canyoneering tour guides and operators underwent the drug test.

In the City of Naga, a job-order employee also tested positive out of the 65 workers tested, while Barangay Ibo, Danao City, a barangay tanod also tested positive in the screening of 40 employees.

All new results are subject for confirmatory testing.

CPADAO said that from March 4 to 21, it has conducted drug tests on 1,112 employees from the barangays and LGUs of Badian, Danao, Consolacion, and Barili, as well the personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). — KBQ (FREEMAN)