Brgy captain found positive in drug test
A barangay chief was found positive in the surprise drug test yesterday conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Protection during the third general assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils at the White Gold House in the North Reclama
Out of 71 individuals, 60 of which were barangay captains, one was found positive, said COSAP head, Dr. Alice Utlang.
Utlang said though she cannot yet name the barangay captain until the confirmatory test is done. The result will be submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government for appropriate action.
The barangay officials underwent five types of test to identify the use of ecstasy, marijuana, shabu, cocaine and opium.
"Nindot sad ni siya kay naang higayon kay sila ba, being head sa ilang barangay kay sila gyuy una para dili makaingon ang empleyado sa barangay nga kami ra diay," Utlang said.
The city government has been conducting surprise drug tests due to observations that only five barangays heeded to the yearly test, namely: Mambaling, Apas, Mabolo, Buhisan, and Labangon.
Since Utlang assumed as COSAP head in 2014, she said there are barangays that did not conduct drug tests, like barangays Hipodromo, Day-as and T. Padilla.
Yesterday, apart from the 60 barangay captains, 10 ABC staff and Cebu City Police Office director Joel Doria also took the drug test.
ABC president and Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra thanked the city for initiating the drug test during their assembly.
"Yes, surprise gyud ni, dugay nani nato nga giplano. Mas maayo nga gipahigayon during our 3rd general assembly, wa gyud ni nahibaw atong barangay captains about ani and we are happy nga smooth ang dagan sa drug test niya nakita gyud nato ang ilahang cooperation. Although wala mi nakompleto karon for they have a prior engagement pero as what I have said wala gyud sila nakibaw ani nga naay drug test nga mahitabo karon," he said.
For the other barangay chiefs who did not take the drug test yesterday, Zafra challenge them to do so as soon as possible.
"Ako silang gi-challenge nga mo-undergo sila'g drug test, if they could do it today the better, if not we will schedule dili sad nato i-announce kanus-a. Ang akong challenge nila andam sila at any given time," he said.
Aside from Zafra, ABC vice president and Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman said the move of COSAP is for the good of the barangays.
"Makaayo, in fact wa gyud ta nag-expect nga adunay surprise drug test pero okay kaayo, In fact, Kap Phillip Zafra has been encouraging to all barangay captains aside from the drug test functional gyud ang atong BADAC, anti-drug abuse council, kung imong scale nimo ang 1 to 10 daghan pa gyud ang wala ni practice ana," he said.
He said it would also help them verify reports that there are barangay officials who are allegedly drug protectors.
"Mas maayo nga kibaw ta then it needs verification. Kapoy manang daghang estorya mas maayo na nga name names gyud kun kinsay involve sa drugs kay base sa report ni Doria, wala may problema, naay gamay sa ubang areas pero in totality okay raman," Ayuman added.