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[av_heading heading=’ 5 councilors test negative for drugs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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ILOILO City – Five city councilors took up the drug test challenge of colleague Plaridel Nava. They passed the test.
Councilors Lady Julie Grace Baronda, Lee Zulueta-Salazar, Jay Treñas, Ely Estante, and Reyland Hervias tested negative for illegal drugs.
They had themselves tested on Monday. They submitted urine samples.
“The results proved we were not into illegal drugs,” said Hervias, also the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.
Last week, Nava said the city council must be freed from doubts that any of its members was using illegal drugs.
Nava himself was yet to take a drug test as of yesterday. He told Panay News he would undergo the test tomorrow.
He will submit blood sample and not urine, said Nava, because blood testing using blood sample is more reliable.
“Ang urine is not accurate and can be manipulated,” said Nava.
Councilor R Leonie Gerochi, meanwhile, said he won’t undergo drug testing.
“I don’t feel the need to undergo the test,” he told Panay News. He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon said the drug testing was not included in his budget.
He also offered a different view on drug testing.
“Ang nagapa-drug test (do so) kay tungod nga suspect na sila, may possibility nga basi naga usar sila,” said Ganzon.
In his case, Ganzon said, “Indi ko pag ikambyo ang ngalan ko sa (illegal) drugs lang o biskan ano nga manggad. A good name is far better than great riches. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and losses his own soul.”
Nava’s ally Councilor Joshua Alim said he was okay taking a drug test but stressed that only the two of them were actually antidrug crusaders in the city council since the issue cropped up in 2015.
“Kinanglanon pa magpa-drug test kami? Daw kami man lang gani ga-suong sa drugs. Daw kami lang to ang may mga threats. During those times nga wala pa napatay atong identified (drug lord) sang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, daw waay man sang gatingog tanan,” he said.
The city council is composed of 12 councilors and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III as presiding officer.
It was not clear as of this writing, however, if Espinosa and councilors Candice Tupas, Mandrie Malabor and Eduardo Peñaredondo would take drug tests, too./PN
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