Random drug testing for 1,000 Brgy, SK candidates in GenSan

ENERAL SANTOS CITY – More than 1,000 candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections have voluntarily undergone random drug testing as initiated by the local government here and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera ordered on Thursday the drug testing to all candidates who attended the poll’s peace covenant signing held at the city gymnasium here.

All candidates who turned up to the peace covenant signing ceremony were surprised when Rivera ordered the police to lock down the entrance and exit gates of the gymnasium, and ordered the candidates to submit themselves to the drug testing that was administered by the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Crime Laboratory Office.

“The drug test was voluntary in nature but if the candidates have nothing to hide, then they should submit themselves to drug testing,” Rivera said.

He said the surprise drug test was initiated by the city government and Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure that there were no candidates involved in the use illegal drugs who will run in the barangay elections.

He said the initiative was launched in support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s campaign to go after barangay officials who are involved in the illegal drug trade.

The DILG recently released the list of barangay officials who were allegedly into illegal drugs.

The mayor said the result of the drug test conducted among local candidates for barangay elections will be announced soon by the Comelec and DILG.