FIFTEEN out of 246 personnel of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) tested positive of illegal drug use during the surprise drug test by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention (Cosap).
In his news conference yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that casual employees who are proven to use illegal drugs will be fired.
“If you’re a casual employee and you were found positive, you’re out. I have to be strict and you can even say it’s brutal because I want to make it very clear, I don’t tolerate these things. You can complain to human rights, I don’t care. You need to prove your innocence, especially my appointees,” he said.
Regular employees, on the other hand, who will test positive will face a preliminary investigation by the Human Resource Department Office.
Cosap chief Garry Lao said they are yet to determine if the 15 DEPW personnel who tested positive are all casual employees.
Laboratory results showed that 13 personnel were using shabu while two were using both shabu and marijuana.
“We’re thankful that we were able to know that these 15 (individuals) are into illegal drugs. Prior to the drug test, we informed them that they needed to fill up everything and disclose everything, including the medications that they are taking,” Lao said.
The 246 employees of DEPW underwent the surprise drug test conducted by Cosap last Tuesday, which is part of the office’s thrust to clean the City Government of those who are into illegal drugs.
So far, 17 employees of City Hall have tested positive for illegal drug use this year. (RVC)