Misor dads submit to drug testing

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

Thirteen members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) were subjected to a surprised drug testing on Monday at the Provincial Capitol in response to the call to rid government agencies from officials hooked on  illegal drugs.

Vice Governor Joey Pelaez led other members of the Provincial Board (PB) except for Mario Emano and Jigjag Pelaez who were absent during the regular session and the conduct of the drug test.

Pelaez said the two officials will also do the drug test after they report to office in the next session. Emano was absent because he was ill while, Pelaez was attending a legislative conference in Metro Manila.

“Upon their return, ako mismo ang magdala sa ila for drug testing. Ako gyud ang mag-arrange,” he said.

He added that there is no exemption for the drug testing to the legislative staff and employees.

“We made it surprise and voluntarily to show other employees at the Provincial Capitol that we are serious in driving our goal for a drug-free government offices in the province. The next to avail the drug test are the rank and file employees of the SP,” he said.

The drug test is free to all local officials and employees at the Provincial Capitol as part of the program of Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano to eradicate government officials and employees hooked on illegal drugs.

Emano’s campaign against illegal drugs, at least 10 Capitol employees have already been dismissed from the service after testing positive to drug use.

He said every now and then an unscheduled random drug testing will be conducted during flagaising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol to determine officials and employees hooked on drugs.

Pelaez said the decision came after Provincial Police Director P/Sr. Supt. Sukarno Alvarez reported to the provincial board that at least 5,000 residents from Misamis Oriental have yielded and availed their “Operation Tokhang.”

Earlier, Alvarez reported that top five municipalities and cities has the most number of drug dependents and pushers who avail the program of Operation TukHang includes Tagoloan – 1,513; Gingoog City – 1,405; El Salvador City – 1,302; Jasaan – 1,282; and Manticao – 695.

He said they would again summon Alvarez to update them of the current drug situation in the province.

“Our provincial PNP is very supportive in our effort to possibly declare Misamis Oriental as a drug free province,” he added.

Pelaez said they had allocated more than P1 million for the anti-illegal drug campaign to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as part of the campaign.