Thirty-nine employees of the Silay City government tested positive for illegal drugs, while eight officials of the Negros Occidental Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) who voluntarily underwent tests were negative.
Two regular employees and 37 casual workers of the Silay City government tested positive during surprise mandatory drug tests, Lt. Col. Mark Darroca, Silay City police chief, said Wednesday, August 9.
He said 1,010 city government employees had undergone surprise mandatory drug tests as of Tuesday, August 8.
Meanwhile, eight of 11 members of the PACE board of directors who underwent drug tests Wednesday tested negative.
PACE president Ruben Diamante said they underwent voluntary drug tests because Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz disclosed earlier that he had received unconfirmed information that there are some provincial government employees using and selling drugs.
He said the PACE officials subjected themselves to drug tests to set an example to others. There is nothing to be afraid of if you have nothing to hide, he said.
They support the suggestion that drug tests should be conducted on employees prior to hiring, he also said.
The PACE officials who tested negative aside from Diamante were Merly Frio, Ramil Buhisan, Arnel Reyes, Joseph Rhyan Cuadra, Al Ceralbo, Venchito Magalona and Victor Gutang.
PACE officials who were not present was the union’s former president Renelo Lastierre, Nimrod Sarmoy and Alejandro Decena.
Lastierre said he was not notified notified about the conduct of the drug tests.*