CEBU, Philippines - Association of Barangay Councils President Philip Zafra is letting the barangay captains decide what to do with their barangay employees found positive of drug use.
As of the latest report, around 63 barangay employees in 16 barangays in the city were found positive of using illegal drugs.
“We’ll leave it up to them. Tagaan nako sila og respeto sa ilahang desisyon kabahin sa ilahang mga staff nga na found positive,†said Zafra, who is also the Tisa barangay captain.
However, he said he thinks those found using drugs are also victims because the main problem is the drug pushers.
“Para nako kaning mga tawhana biktima ra sad ni sila so nanginahanglan gyud ni sila og intervention kinahanglan ni sila og pagsabot nagkinhanglan ni sila og close monitoring unya counseling and everything,†he said.
Zafra added the barangay captain should also scrutinize if these employees are effective and productive in their respective jobs.
“Taliwala sa ilahang bisyo, mao na nga sila ra gyud ang makatimbang-timbang kon angayan pa ba gyud nga mapadayon ni sila kuyog nila sa pagpanerbisyo,†he added.
Last Thursday, eight barangay employees in two barangays in Cebu City were found positive of illegal drugs, two of them female.
In Barangay Labangon five employees were found positive; one maintenance personnel, one driver, one admin staff and two street cleaners. In Barangay San Roque three were found positive; two loaders and one barangay tanod.
Labangon barangay captain Victor Buendia said he will let them undergo rehabilitation and might accept them again because these employees have families depending on them.
However, San Roque Barangay Captain Lidiore Miranda said he already terminated them.
“I don’t have that kind of tolerance, para nako the fact nga positive ka you are not part of our organization. So maong pasayloon ko nila samtang ganahan ko nga naa sila diha pero as it is, ila manang gihimo wala ta’y mahimo,†he said.
City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention chief Dr. Alice Utlang said the city has an outpatient rehabilitation program for those who are found positive of using drugs, not just for the barangay officials and employees but also for those private individuals as long as they are a resident of the city.
Mayor Michael Rama said he wants barangay employees found positive to be monitored by their respective barangay captains. —/BRP (FREEMAN)