JUST how safe and secure could a place like Davao City be with no less than public safety personnel going to work under the influence of illegal drugs.
This comes as Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) action officer Jaffar Marohomsalic admitted that at least 37 local government personnel yielded positive results after undergoing random drug tests.
The random drug tests were administered from May 3 until May 13 on the request of Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) chief Angel Sumagaysay.
According to Marohomsalic, all 37 were job order employees – or those who were hired upon the instruction and approval of the local chief executive. Most of the drug-tainted government employees were from the Civil Security Unit (CSU) which was created to protect the civilians in the city.
Sumagaysay has already submitted a recommendation to the Office of the Mayor seeking the immediate dismissal of all 37 city government employees.
Marohomsalic for his part said that those who tested positive for drugs have already admitted substance abuse, for which he recommended that they be “rehabilitated.”
“We will enroll them in our drug rehabilitation program but it is voluntary… we cannot compel talaga na they will enroll sa rehab program but they are being interviewed na rin because their names are forwarded to the implementing bodies also,” CADAC chief averred.
“They are subject to confirmatory test but there was admission sa mga nag-positive that is why ang ating department heads it depends on them kung ano ang magiging decision sa mga nag positive na personnel… CADAC will just facilitate,” he added.
As for Sumagaysay, she finds it rather imperative for Mayor Duterte to rid the security cluster tasked to maintain public order of employees involved in illegal activities.
“Very frustrating. Ang usa sa mga gina-emphasize nako diha, kining avoidance from illegal activity, isa na diha ang usage of illegal drugs. So giingon nako, inyong gi-violate ang contract ninyo with the city government. We have no choice but to terminate you.”
As of this writing, it remains to be confirmed whether or not Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte fired the drug-positive security personnel. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
