CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong, in his visit to this capital city of Samar on Friday, announced that he is offering cash rewards to anyone who can report and, along the way, be able to prove drug involvement of any TESDA staff nationwide.
Mamondiong's announcement came in amid the government's assessment that about 94 percent of the country's villages are drug affected, thus he wanted to rid the agency of drug-involved and corrupt employees,
The TESDA chief explained that the vastness of drug influence in the country had not spared even government agencies from being affected, and that every government institution must be cleansed and subsequently contribute to the elimination of the drug menace.
"The drug problem is so vast that we also have to contribute to President Rodrigo Duterte's advocacy. Ganito ang gagawin natin: Lahat ng mga trainees and staff of TESDA should undergo drug testing, though hindi ito puwersahan. But you see, kung ikaw lang o dalawa kayo na ayaw magpa-drug test, eh baka may problema ka," Mamondiong said.
However, Mamondiong assured the public that whoever is found positive during the drug testing will not be reported to the police, but the agency will help them in the rehabilitation process. "Hindi natin isusumbong sa pulis, bagkos ay tutulungan natin sila na mag-bago," he said.
In the same occasion, Mamondiong further urged Samarnons to report any of TESDA staffs some would know are into corruption. They (informers) would receive cash rewards if the information are validated with concrete proofs, he said.
"Provide us with the evidence of course. This administration will not tolerate corruption in our government agencies, but you have to make sure that your report is substantiated with enough evidence. Hindi puwedeng sapantaha mo lang," Mamondiong said.
Reports on drugs and corruption within TESDA he said can be coursed through the TESDA website, wherein proofs substantiating the reports can also be attached. No specific amount of cash reward however was posted. (FREEMAN)