Guv to dismiss workers positive of drug use

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano is set to terminate capitol workers who were tested positive for drug use in the unannounced random drug testing last July 30.

Emano said he was told by the provincial administrator on Monday, August 6, that an employee was tested positive for using dangerous drugs.

The governor has yet

to confirm the number of employees who were found positive for drug use as he has yet to receive the copy of the results.

“Wala pa nako nakuha ang resulta pero gihung-hungan ko nga dunay nag-positibo pero wala pako kabalo pila kabuok(I haven’t received the results yet but I was told there were those who were positive in the test, I still don’t know how many,”Emano said.

Around 40 names were randomly picked but only 33 had actually underwent the procedure as the other nine were absent during the scheduled drug test.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Northern Mindanao (PDEA-10) administered the drug testing and funded through the intelligence fund of the governor.

Emano failed to submit himself to the said drug test because he was at the federation election of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) to lead the oath taking of the elected officers.

“Karon lang gyud ko wala kaapil kay toa ako sa ABC election(I was at the ABC election and so I was not able to submit myself for the test) ,”Emano said.

Emano warned that those tested positive will be accorded due process based on civil service rules.

He said they will be suspended first while the results are being confirmed.

“Kung positive i-preventive suspension nato kana is already our action kay ipadala pa man sa crime lab sa Davao and results for verification pagbalik ana ayha na ang formal termination(Anyone found positive will be under preventive suspension pending a verification from Davao crime lab, then formal termination),”Emano said.

“Sa mga empleyado magpadayon lang sila sa droga aron pag-random drug test dakpan kay daghan gusto nato isulod nga trabahante diri (Let employees continue to use drugs if they wish, we have workers waiting to replace them if they are found positive),”he added.

Emano has been a staunch supporter of the war on drugs of the Duterte administration. (Alwen Saliring)