City to go after gov’t workers using drugs

Cebu City officials are expected to intensify the campaign against city and barangay personnel who are drug users.

The City Council has already approved the resolution of councilor Augustus Pe Jr., appropriating P150,000 to be used to purchase drug testing kits.

Pe, chairman of the City Council committee on peace and order, is also in charge of the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention.

In previous drug tests conducted on selected City Hall and barangay employees, some were found out to be positive of the dangerous drugs, particularly shabu, and they were dismissed from their jobs.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will not tolerate drug use by City Hall personnel.

Those who will be found positive in the surprise drug testing will be dismissed after the results of the confirmatory drug test turned out to be the same. But if they are regular workers covered under the civil service, they must face proper hearing.

So far this year, COSAP already found 18 persons, including seven City Hall accredited butchers of the Cebu City Modern Abattoir private butchers, as drug dependents.

It was learned that the number of drug dependents among the ranks of city government and barangay personnel this year has already surpassed that of last year. 

There are currently about 10,000 city and barangay personnel.   — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP