No Capitol workers positive of drug use

CEBU, Philippines - None of the employees of the Cebu provincial government who underwent a random drug test yesterday yielded positive result.

This was confirmed by Joey Herrera, executive director of the Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Commission.

A total of 72 Capitol employees were subjected to a drug screening but only 57 attended. They were picked through computer-generated random selection process.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 administered the drug test.

The Provincial Information Office said that those who were not around during the drug test were either on leave, absent, reassigned or out of town.

The Capitol  employees who were called to appear in the drug test came from the offices of the Civil Security Services Division, Provincial Engineering, Provincial General Services, Provincial Treasurer and Legislative Department.

An employee from the CSSD who reportedly did not respond to the call will be asked to explain, said Capitol's Security head Loy Anthony Madrigal.

The series of surprise drug tests is part of the Capitol's pursuit to weed out drug users in the provincial government. The drug test yesterday was already the sixth round.

Governor Hilario Davide III earlier stressed the province's thrust to intensify the anti-illegal drug campaign, saying, "We don't want drug users here in the provincial government."

CPADAC's record shows that, so far, there were already 15 Capitol employees, most of whom were casual and outsourced, who have been dismissed from the service after being found positive for drug use.

Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 provides for a random drug testing among public officers and employees.

Under the law, any officer or employee found positive of using dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively, the offense being a ground for suspension or termination, subject to the provisions of the Labor Code and the Civil Service Law. —(FREEMAN)