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[av_heading heading=’ ‘Surprise’ inspection: PDEA agents leave Iloilo City Hall empty-handed’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, October 13, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) made an unannounced inspection of city hall yesterday and found no illegal drugs or illegal drug paraphernalia.
Using dogs trained to find illegal drugs, PDEA personnel checked various offices in all floors of city hall beginning at 9 a.m.
“This is the first time a city hall in the country is inspected by PDEA,” said Acting Mayor Jose Espinosa III who, on Oct. 2, issued Executive Order (EO) No. 85 that sought to make the city government a drug-free workplace and set guidelines in the conduct of inspection and drug testing on city hall officials and employees.
The inspection was planned last week, said Espinosa, “para mabal-an ta gid nga drug-free ang workplace naton.”
Under the EO, any official, employee, job order or contractual who may be found in possession of illegal drugs or illegal paraphernalia during the conduct of surprise office inspections will be subjected to administrative disciplinary proceedings without prejudice to their criminal prosecution in accordance with the law.
Espinosa said the inspection was a step in ensuring a drug-free city hall. He recently set up an “anti-illegal drug information box” where anyone can slip notes containing information about employees involved in illegal drugs.
Four city hall employees named in the drop box would undergo drug testing through the City Health Office, according to city hall chief of security, retired police colonel Felix Muchada.
Three of the four were regular employees; one was a casual employee.
According to Muchada, three were tagged as drug users while was one accused of being a drug runner.
The information have been forwarded to the police for validation, he stressed.
Soon, city government employees would be subjected to random drug tests. Espinosa did not say when this would be carried out.
EO 85 set two kinds of drug tests – mandatory and random.
The mandatory drug test is the compulsory submission of an official or employee to the test conducted in any of the following instances:
- pre-employment
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past history of drug use
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involvement in accidents
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discovery of dangerous drugs or drug paraphernalia in their person or work station
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detention by police / filing of charge in court for drug-related cases
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promotion requirement
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employees reporting to work and undergoing rehabilitation in a treatment and rehab center
The random drug test, on the other hand, is the subjection of personnel to drug testing without prior notice./PN
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