VICE MAYOR J. Melchor Quitain Jr. said the city government officials won’t be excused to drug testing following Rep. Robert Ace Barbers’ call to investigate substance abuse among public employees.
Quitain told reporters on June 5 that the local government continues to conduct random drug tests to ensure no employees are using illegal substances.
“Even though we are in the city government, we are not exempted from that,” he said.
The vice mayor added there is nothing wrong with drug tests as “there’s no secrets” in the government.
When asked if the City Council will push for such a resolution, Quitain said there is no need for such since drug testing is “ongoing.”
He added the respective offices have not failed to require their employees to undergo unannounced testing.
“Better make it random, kasi if you know, kung sino man yung taking something illegal can easily evade,” he said.
The vice mayor added the City Council will discuss in Tuesday’s regular session for the random drug testing.
To recall, Barbers, Surigao del Norte Representative and House of Representatives committee on dangerous drugs head, raised the alarm over 37 Davao City’s Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) personnel who tested positive for drug use from May 3 and May 13 random drug testing.
Barbers called on the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to probe illegal drug use by government employees in Davao City.
“As chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, I call on the PNP and PDEA to deeply get involved and eradicate the source of the illegal drugs in Davao City. Spare no one and leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of this mess,” he said, according to a report from Inquirer.
The PSSO personnel, mostly from the Civil Security Unit, were already dismissed.
