3 DWUP staff who escaped random drug test went absent without leave

CEBU, Philippines - The three City Hall employees who escaped the random drug test last week have not reported back to work since then.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) chief Collin Rosell where the three are assigned said that the subject employees claimed to be on vacation leave. However, Rosell said there is no record to show that the three have applied for vacation leave.

According to Rosell, employees cannot just go on leave without applying for it. Rosell said that because of what they did, the three employees may no longer be issued appointment for renewal of their contract.

Rosell admitted that prior to the drug test he had recommended for the renewal of their contract but because of what had happened his recommendation will be withdrawn.

Aside from refusing to undergo the drug test, the three employees were also found to have punched out at the City Hall’s data capturing machine in the afternoon that they escaped from the random drug test.

The subject employees were among the 23 staff at the DWUP identified to undergo the random drug test last Friday. As of yesterday no result of the drug test was made available to the media.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier instructed COSAP personnel to intensify the conduct of surprise drug test among City Hall workers, particularly those who will be recommended by their department heads because of suspicions that they are hooked in illegal drugs.  (FREEMAN)