S. Cotabato guv, 7 other test negative for drug use

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes and other provincial officials have tested negative for illegal drug use in separate tests conducted by the local government.

A report released by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), which administered the tests, said the governor, Vice Gov. Vicente de Jesus and six members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board yielded negative results.

The test was the second for Fuentes, who expressed willingness to be tested again for the third time in response to calls from the 11 city and municipal mayors in the province.

“To clear any doubts, I’m willing to do it again,” the governor told reporters on Friday.

Earlier this week, Vice Gov. de Jesus and six of the 14 members of the provincial board underwent drug tests at the South Cotabato provincial hospital in Koronadal City.

The six board members were Agustin Dema-ala, Dardanilo Dar, Aemon Matti, Ester Catorce, indigenous peoples’ mandatory representative Edgar Sambog, and Association of Barangay Councils President Vicente Yungco.

Of the five female members of the board, only board member Catorce was available for the tests as the other four were on official business.

“All results were negative,” said Vice Gov. de Jesus, who earlier pushed for the drug tests for all members and personnel of the provincial board.

He said the six other board members had agreed to undergo the tests and already made arrangements with the IPHO.

These are former vice governor and now board member Cecile Diel, Glyzel MarianoTrabado, Ellen Grace SubereAlbios, Romulo Solivio and Ernesto Tamayo.

Last month, the provincial government subjected all its permanent and job order or contractual employees to mandatory drug tests.

Based on a directive issued by the governor, job order workers were obliged to undergo drug tests prior to the issuance of their official appointment.

She also required the test for regular or permanent employees who would seek promotion.

Earlier, at least 10 employees of the provincial government yielded positive of illegal drug use during the mandatory tests.

The job order workers who failed the test were immediately dismissed from service while those with permanent items were subjected to processes set by the Civil Service Commission.