Kidapawan execs take drug tests

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — Local officials led by Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista on Friday voluntarily underwent drug tests to show to their constituents that none of them are hooked to either shabu or marijuana.

Members of the city council had also undergone drug tests in support of the city government's campaign against illegal drugs.

"This to show that we have the moral ascendancy to wage a campaign against illegal drugs because we in the city government are clean and are not drug dependents," Evangelista said.

None of the local officials tested positive to use of illegal drugs.

Evangelista said their effort to curb circulation of Shabu and Marijuana in all of Kidapawan City's 40 barangays is serious.

The drug testing was facilitated by experts from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

"We will embark on unannounced drug testing for our city government workers too," Evangelista said.

He declined to reveal the schedules of the planned random drug tests for his subordinates.

Poverty and unemployment have been blamed for the reported rise in drug trafficking activities in Kidapawan City and nearby towns in recent months.