THE first order of business for the newly-installed village chief of Barangay Sto. Niño in San Simon town, Perlito “Dong” Dagdag, Jr., was the conduct of a surprise drug test on his appointed barangay employees.
A total of 106 appointed officials, including barangay secretary, treasurer, peacekeepers and members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Mayor’s Peace and Order Council were asked to undergo drug tests right after the flag raising ceremony held at the Sto. Niño Elementary School Covered Court.
Municipal Health Officer Marline Bagtas, who facilitated the drug test, said that village officials were asked to submit their on-the-spot urine samples to check on the possible presence of illegal drug particles on their body.
Before the day ended, the test results were out and showed that all appointed officials were negative on any substance abuse problems, particularly methamphetamine drugs, Bagtas disclosed.
Dagdag, who had initially shown confidence in his appointed officials, said he still felt relieved by the results, as it validated his trust and instincts about the people he picked to join him in serving the people.
“While I am confident about my chosen colleagues, I still decided to do the drug tests, just like what we, together with my fellow elected barangay officials, were asked to do by our local police before we officially assumed our posts, to prove that they are ‘clean’ and can fulfill their duty, particularly in our quest to ensure the protection of my kabalens from the proliferation illegal drugs in our community,” he said.
It could be remembered that this town’s chief cop, Chief Inspector Louie Gonzaga, also asked the new and re-elected barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan to undergo drug testing after their mass oath-taking ceremony recently.
Dagdag said the clearing of all elected and appointed officials of Barangay Sto. Niño from the use of illegal drugs is a signal that they can start their own campaign against any form of illegal substance abuse.
As the only village declared drug-cleared by authorities, he stressed that they are up for the challenge of not only maintaining their status, but also to make their community a model one when it comes to the war against illegal drugs.
“My goal is to maintain our drug-cleared status, meaning no drug trades, no drug personalities and that my people can live free from the threats of it. And hopefully, we can be a model village not only in San Simon, but in the whole of Pampanga,” Dagdag noted.
Dagdag said that he and his fellow Barangay Sto. Niño officials are already reviewing and assessing the situation of his barangay, with the guidance of the Philippine National Police, before he will launch the anti-drug campaign that is tailored-fit for their community.