Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he terminated 49 job order (JO) workers and suspended four regular employees of the Bacolod City government after they tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.
All of them will be asked to submit themselves to Col. Noel Aliño, Bacolod City police director, for further investigation, Benitez said on Wednesday, August 2.
He said the city government workers assigned to the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) who tested positive for the use of drugs had increase from 46 to 53.
There were 21 from the POSO and 42 from the BTAO, he said.
Whether the four suspended regular city employees will be terminated will depend on an investigation to also be conducted by the City Legal Office, he said.
Benitez said the random drug tests will continue and will be expanded to other departments of the city government.*