• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government that test positive for illegal drugs will face sanctions.
The warning was made yesterday by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, after eight Capitol employees tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.
A total of 2,300 of more than 3,000 Capitol employees, including elected officials, underwent drug testing on December 11 and 12.
The provincial government will deal with the employees who tested positive for illegal drug use when the report is final, Lacson said.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that Contract of Service and Job Order employees that tested for illegal drug use will be terminated from their jobs by next year.
On the other hand, regular employees will face administrative charges, Diaz said.
He added that seven of those that tested positive were using shabu, while the other one used marijuana.
He, however, said that the results of 20 others were “grey” so they will be subjected to confirmatory tests.
Majority of those tested positive are males, Diaz, who withheld their identities, added.
He also reported that none of the elected officials tested positive for drug use.
The provincial government is also set to conduct drug testing for Capitol employees assigned in government hospitals on December 15.
Diaz said they have at least 700 drug testing kits remaining, which is not enough to cover all hospital employees.
We will have to make another purchase, he stressed.
Engr. Ruben Diamante, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), said they “do not condone and tolerate such acts.”
“Using illegal drugs is a personal choice. Instead we should be models and not destroy the ranks of the Capitol employees,” Diamante added.*
