5 city personnel test positive in drug test

CEBU, Philippines — Five job order personnel of the Cebu City government tested positive during a surprise drug test conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 in coordination with the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) at the Cebu City Sports Center the other day.

Councilor David Tumulak confirmed that three of those who tested positive were personnel from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), while two were employees of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

The five will undergo confirmatory testing and investigation, and if found to have used illegal drugs, the matter will be reported to the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), which will determine the appropriate administrative sanctions.

Tumulak, who also joined the drug test with his staff, expressed disappointment over the outcome.

He said it was disheartening to learn that government employees tested positive. He stressed that people hold public servants in high regard and that such incidents cast a shadow on those who are performing their duties honestly.

He urged employees, including JOs who continue using illegal drugs, to resign before being caught, warning that drug use erodes trust among colleagues and brings shame to the institution.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, CCSC Manager Ildebrando Velasquez said the results did not come as a surprise, as he had already suspected certain employees based on his observations, which prompted him to request the drug test.

Velasquez described the outcome as unfortunate, noting that one of the two employees was known to be hardworking.

He said both personnel were advised to resign, and they agreed to do so in order to avoid a lengthy administrative process.

Velasquez added that they were encouraged to avail of intervention programs from COSAP to help them recover.

The surprise drug test covered a total of 330 employees: 268 from CCDRRMO, 49 from CCSC, and 13 from Tumulak’s office.

The initiative is part of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Mayor Nestor Archival, which aims to ensure a safe and healthy working environment in City Hall.

Last month, Archival himself underwent drug testing along with more than 100 employees from the Office of the Mayor and the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP), where all results came back negative. – Preciosa Bacalso, MRM (CEBU NEWS)