A TANOD tested positive for illegal drug use during a surprise drug test conducted on all personnel of Barangay Luz, Cebu City on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
Jonah John Rodriguez, head of the Cebu City Office for Substarnce Abuse Prevention (Cosap), confirmed the matter to SunStar Cebu on Friday, November 19.
Rodriguez said on Thursday, they initiated a surprise drug test on all 165 of Barangay Luz’s officials and personnel as part of its yearly monitoring of barangays in the city.
Rodriguez said the tanod (watchman) who was found positive during the drug test will be subjected to a confirmatory test.
But even though he will still be subjected to a confirmatory test, Barangay Luz Councilor Carl Arnoco, who chairs the committee on peace and order in the village, will recommend the tanod’s removal.
Rodriguez said there were still some employees of the barangay who didn’t appear during the drug test and the Cosap will require them to undergo a drug test or they will be sanctioned by the City.
He said since October, Cosap had already conducted surprise drug tests in 10 barangays.
In the 10 barangays where they conducted tests, around 10 barangay personnel have been found positive for illegal drug use in Mabolo, Babag and Luz.
Rodriguez said if a barangay staffer is found positive for illegal drug use, they will leave it to the barangay to decide whether to retain the staffer or not. (BBT / JKV)