4 SK officers face dismissal from office

FOUR Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in Cebu may face administrative charges and dismissal from public office after testing positive for illegal drug use in a confirmatory test.

The separate initial screenings conducted by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (Cpadao) from February to March 4, revealed an SK chairperson from Danao City and another SK chairperson from the southern town of Oslob yielded positive results.

An SK councilor from Danao City and an SK councilor from Carmen town also tested positive for illegal drug use.

The four officials again yielded positive results in a confirmatory test conducted by a Manila-based laboratory.

The development was confirmed by Cpadao Chief Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, in an interview on Wednesday, March 27.

“We got already the confirmation results and all are really confirmed,” she said.

Issued on Dec. 21, 2018, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2018-213 provides the establishment and institutionalization of drug-free workplace policies in all government offices, including the conduct of authorized drug testing for elective local officials and appointed public officers.

An elective public officer who refuses, without valid reason, to submit himself to authorized drug testing, or is found positive for drug use after the conduct of a confirmatory test in an authorized drug testing activity will be subject to disciplinary action for misconduct in office, pursuant to Section 60 of the Local Government Code and Article 124 of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Local Government Code.

Last March 22, Meca said SK Cebu Federation President Jerico Rubio requested her office to conduct a random drug test for SK chapter presidents.

The initial screening revealed that of the 19 attendees including Rubio, all tested negative for illegal drug use. /