• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government, who tested positive for illegal drugs, will face sanctions.
The warning was issued yesterday by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson after results of the drug test of eight Capitol employees turned out positive.
A total of 2,300, out of the more than 3,000 Capitol employees, including elected officials, underwent mandatory drug testing on Dec. 11 and 12.
The provincial government will deal with the employees who tested positive for drugs when the report is final, Lacson said.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II yesterday said that contract of service and job order employees tested positive for illegal drug use will be terminated from their jobs starting next year.
Regular employees will face administrative charges, he said.
Seven of those tested positive were using shabu while the other one used marijuana, and most of them are males.
The results of 20 others were “grey” so they will also be subjected to confirmatory tests.
None of the elected officials tested positive for drug use, Diaz said.
The provincial government will also conduct drug testing for Capitol employees assigned in government hospitals on Dec. 15.
Diaz said they have at least 700 remaining drug testing kits, which is not enough to cover all hospital employees.
“We will have to make another purchase,” he said.
Engr. Ruben Diamante, president of Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, said they “do not condone and tolerate” such act of some employees.
“Using illegal drugs is a personal choice. Instead, we should be models and not destroy the ranks of the Capitol employees,” Diamante added. | GB
