Drug test for City Hall, brgy workers to resume

The Cebu City government it set to resume its random and surprise drug testing to its staff and barangay workers in the latter part of next month.

City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) head Jonah John Rodriguez said that the documents for the purchase of materials to be used in the operations are still being processed.

Rodriguez said that the last drug testing in the city government was in December last year when around 40 City Hall employees and another 30 barangay workers tested positive for illegal drugs.

Rodriguez said the city government is giving great importance to an effective and quick provision of services, so its employees must not be under the influence of drugs.

In previous reports, Rodriguez warned that they will recommend termination for those who test positive for illegal drugs.

He said that the performance at work of those who get involved to such will definitely be affected.

For those who test positive for the illegal drug use, he said, there is a rehabilitation program for them.

As earlier reported, in six months, COSAP was able to rehabilitate at least 5,800 individuals, with 3,000 of them being able to complete the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP).

Rodriguez said that the CBDRP made a significant contribution to the community, citing barangays Inayawan and Basak Pardo wherein the number of robbery cases has decreased.

He said this is one of the reasons why even if illegal drugs cannot be easily stopped, they will continue to prevent residents from getting involved to such through the CBDRP.

DRUG BUST

Meanwhile, authorities have arrested two suspects in an anti-illegal drug operation conducted in Bliss, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City at about 07:50 p.m. Monday.

The drug bust operation yielded 65 grams of shabu with a standard drug price value of P442,000.

Police identified the suspects as Romenor “Meno” Piañar Villamor, 42, resident of Sitio Sto. Niño, A. Lopez St., Barangay Labangon, and Charisse Kristine Madrid, 26, of Sitio Buli, Barangay Duljo, all in Cebu City.

Recovered pieces of evidence from Villamor were one medium heat-sealed transparent plastic pack containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, the object of sale, 11 pieces of medium heat-sealed transparent plastic packs, a pouch used as a container, and P15,000 marked money.

A medium heat-sealed transparent plastic pack containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu was also seized from Madrid.

The operation was conducted by the personnel of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 7 (RPDEU-7) led by Police Lieutenant Bonifacio Tanola under the supervision of Police Lieutenant Colonel Ronnie Lawad Failoga.

DRUG DEN

Also, the elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) arrested a live-in couple and one person, including an alleged drug den maintainer, during a buybust operation that resulted in the dismantling of a drug den in Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City on Monday evening.

The drug den maintainer was identified as Esayas Alcover, also known as Shype, 24, and his live-in partner identified as Honei Maloloyon, 20, who served as a drug den employee.

Alcover can allegedly dispose of around 20-30 grams of shabu and around 200 grams of marijuana per week.

Operatives also arrested a drug den visitor identified as Ramel Abanes, 37-year-old.

Confiscated during the buy-bust operation were 10 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P68,000, 22 grams of suspected marijuana leaves with an estimated market value of P2,640, buy-bust money, and various drug paraphernalia.

PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar-Alcantara said they conducted a one-month case build-up after they received information about the drug den.

The suspects will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.