In Dumaguete City LGU 30 workers fired for testing positive of drug use

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — At least 30 employees of Dumaguete City’s local government unit (LGU) were fired after testing positive of illegal drugs, a city official said Wednesday.

Deputy city administrator and human resource manager Dinno Depositario told The Freeman that most of those who were fired were casual and job order (JO) employees. They have not reported for work since their contracts were terminated last March, he said.

A number of those who tested positive were regular employees, but because they enjoy security of tenure, they were subjected first to further investigation before getting stripped of their posts, said Depositario, who declined to disclose the exact number of affected City Hall regular employees.

Depositario said some of the employees who tested positive of drug use told him that they were not necessarily drug addicts. "Ang uban nila kuno, kas-a lang nigamit. Ang uban niapil sa party unya nadala sa ilang mga amigo ug amiga," the city official said.

The termination occurred following the release of results of a series of random drug tests on all of the 1,785 City Hall employees last November, the city government said in a statement.

Former City Local Government Operations Officer Farah Gentuya of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) supervised the said tests.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo himself submitted to the drug test and turned out negative, Depositario noted. "Mayor Remollo has always emphasized his strong commitment to enforce the anti-drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte."

While the employees were terminated, the city government is giving them a chance to be rehired if they undergo the LGU's "wellness program," Depositario further told The Freeman. This program will be handled by a ‘wellness office” that the mayor has yet to establish.

However, Depositario clarified that the "wellness program" is different from a rehabilitation program, which most of the fired employees could avail themselves up as an option. "We are not forcing them to enroll in the program. However, if they want their jobs back, they need to go through it," he said.

"Kami pud sa City Hall, dili pud mi ganahan manangtang og tawo. That's why we are giving them another chance. Pero naa na na nila og ganahan silang mo-avail sa opportunity," he added.

Remollo, for his part, said in a statement that he urged the employees, who tested positive of drugs, to undergo the “wellness program,” so when they are tested “clean” from the use of illegal drugs, “they might be given a chance to return to the service” in the city government.

Meanwhile, based on the most recent verified “narco list” of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, there are no incumbent barangay officials or candidates in the recent elections in Negros Oriental who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs.