Two town workers positive for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two employees of Daanbantayan Municipal Hall were found positive for illegal drugs after yesterday’s surprise drug test.

Joey Herrera of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission said they will have to conduct another test on the two employees within the week.

Mayor Augusto Corro, who was the first to submit himself to the test, said if these two are regular employees of the local government, they will have to go through the process before he would issue a decision.

However, if they are job order personnel, they will immediately be terminated, he said.

As of yesterday afternoon, the private drug testing firm, Big Cross, has not yet revealed the names of the two individuals, who were among the 73 who underwent the test.

Of the 73, at least 51 are rank-and-file employees while the rest are department heads and barangay officials.

Corro said he ordered for the drug test to support the call of Gov. Hilario Davide III to cleanse government offices from drug users.

The mayor also said the test also aims to prove to his political opponents, who accused him of being a drug lord, that he takes the fight against the illegal drug “seriously.”

Corro admitted that there are illegal drug activities in Daanbantayan, but the local police are doing their effort to arrest those behind it.

He said at least two alleged big-time drug dealers, Bong Lucero and Boy Chiong, were apprehended in August and April, respectively.

Last Friday, another alleged drug dealer was also arrested in a buy-bust operation in Malapascua Island.  (FREEMAN)