Saturday, October 20, 2007 Council aspirant fails his drug test
AN aspirant for barangay councilor in Compostela, Cebu submitted a drug test result showing that he has been using drugs.
Compostela Election Officer Emmanuel Uy said the candidate was even proud that he is honest enough to submit a positive drug test result. (Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the candidate’s name pending his comment.)
Uy said he advised the candidate to stop using drugs and the aspirant reportedly said, “Kini gyud ang makapausab nako (My candidacy will make me change).”
Uy said they had no choice but to accept his certificate of candidacy as there is no rule that the COCs of candidates who tested positive of drugs should not be accepted.
It is not even a ground for disqualification, Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Castillano said in previous interviews.
A drug test is among the requirements in the filing of candidacy papers.
Winning candidates who failed to comply with this requirement cannot assume office, but Comelec does not make a follow-up or take any action based on their list after the elections.
Thursday midnight was the deadline for the submission of COCs and drug test certificates of candidates for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 29.
The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 requires candidates to undergo the drug test.
Section 36 (g), Article 3 of the law provides that “all candidates for public office, whether appointed or elected, shall undergo a mandatory drug test.”
The drug testing shall be done by any government drug testing center accredited and monitored by the Department of Health to safeguard the quality of the test result. (MBG
