5 found in drug use

FIVE Capitol employees were tested positive for illegal drug use after the Cebu Provincial AntiDrug Abuse Commission (CPADAC) conducted a surprise drug test yesterday.

Four of them were found positive of using shabu, while one was detected using marijuana.

At least 63 casual and job order (JO) employees were randomly chosen and invited by CPADAC to submit their urine for screening held at the second floor of the Legislative Building.

CPADAC Executive Director Joey Herrera said there are 42 casual and JO employees from Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office; 15 newly-hired JOs from Provincial Engineer Office; and six newly-hired casual and JOs from Information, Communication and Technology Office.

After the flag ceremony, Herrera announced that there will be a drug test.

Herrera said 57 employees showed up. The six others were absent.

This is the second drug test conducted by CPADAC in the offices under the Cebu Provincial Government for this year, following the screening test at Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital in Argao.

“Daghan man gud ang JO and casual kaysa permanent (There are more JO and casual employees than the permanent employees),” the executive director said.

Herrera said the result of yesterday’s drug test will be subject to confirmatory test.

He said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency can release the result of the confirmatory test two days after the screening test is done.

In a separate interview, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, chair of CPADAC, said the Provincial Government do not want drug users in Capitol that’s why random drug test has been done.

“JOs duna man tay standing rule ana once they’ve tested positive, pwede man sila tangtangon sa (For JOs, once they are tested positive, the Provincial Government can dismiss them),” Davide said.