Thursday, September 27, 2007 ‘Submit drug test result or face disqualification’ By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental reminded anew Wednesday all would-be-candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to undergo drug test and submit the result upon filing of their certificates of candidacy (COCs).
This, as Comelec Provincial Supervisor Jessie Suarez reiterated that any COC without the attached result of drug test will be invalidated.
The filing of COCs for barangay and SK candidates will be on September 29.
However, Comelec said drug test result can still be submitted until October 18.
Elections will be on October 29.
Comelec, however, said drug test must be conducted only at drug testing centers duly authorized or accredited by Department of Health (DOH).
Meanwhile, all election officers were also told to submit the list of candidates and their respective certificate to the Comelec Law Department in Manila.
Any candidate who will fail to comply the basic requirements, especially the drug test result will be disqualified to participate in the coming polls.
Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, it states that all civil servants, whether appointed or elected, should undergo mandatory drug testing.
The law applies to candidates for barangay chairman, council members and also for SK chairman and the SK council members.
