BJMP workers found negative in drug test

CEBU, Philippines - Employees of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Cebu City have been tested negative in the surprise drug test conducted by the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention yesterday.

“All 138 employees who submitted to the surprise drug test were found to be negative of drug abuse,” this was confirmed by Felix Jose Lazarte, executive assistant of COSAP.

One of the 138 workers is a nurse assigned in the jail facility in barangay Kalunasan.

Lazarte said that it was BJMP Senior Supt. Doris Dorigo who requested for the surprise drug test from Councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe, head of the City Council committee on dangerous drugs.

The request was forwarded to the office of the COSAP which in turn initiated the drug test. The COSAP is made up of five members and three others from the Scene of the Crime Operatives.

However, Lazarte said that there are still 28 personnel who have not undergone the drug test since eight were accompanying an inmate to a hearing and the 20 others were not assigned in the said facility.

Lazarte also said that they have requested that the 28 employees proceed to the SOCO crime laboratory today to undergo the drug test.

According to Lazarte, in requests like this, it is only Pe and the one requesting the drug test who know of the schedule as to when the drug test will be conducted.

After this, he added, they still have to carry out more surprise drug tests since barangay captains have requested too that their workers and staff be tested for any substance abuse.

COSAP and the committee headed by Pe conduct surprise drug tests in support to the city’s advocacy against illegal drugs. — AJ de la Torre/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)