LAWYER Anabelle Palic, head of the Human Resource and Management office (HRMO) of the Negros Occidental Provincial Government, said Monday, November 19, that the two Capitol employees who were earlier tested positive in the drug test were confirmed for illegal drug use.
Palic said the two employees are both male and hold permanent positions. However, she refused to reveal their identities and under which department they were assigned.
"I will have to submit the report first to the governor and the Provincial Administrator as the confirmatory results from Manila arrived on November 16," Palic said.
She said that after the confirmatory results, it will be determined what the extent of their use of illegal drugs is.
“If it is chronic, then they will be recommended for rehabilitation and if they are only experimenter, they will undergo guidance and counseling, all at their own personal expense,” she said.
Palic said the Capitol employees were made to undergo a surprise drug test on October 1 in 2018. The expenses were shouldered by the Provincial Government.
After the two were tested positive, the drug testing center accredited by the Philippine National Police (PNP) submitted the results in their Manila laboratory for confirmation.
The move of the Capitol to conduct a drug test on its employees, she said, is based on the guidelines set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Palic said that the Provincial Government will strictly follow the rules of the CSC in dealing with the employees using illegal drugs including the filing of appropriate charges.
She also said that the performance including the attendance of the two employees will be evaluated.