BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – The city government encourages barangay officials to voluntarily undergo drug testing.
“We can’t force them (to undergo drug testing) because there is no law (on mandatory testing). That is the reason why we only strongly encourage and recommend drug testing,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The city government, he added, would provide the test kits.
A barangay official who tests positive for illegal drug use would have to undergo rehabilitation and will be reported to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO). They could only go back to service after testing negative for drug use.
Treñas confirmed received reports about barangay officials involved in illegal drugs.
“But these reports have to be substantiated. We are under a democratic system. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” he said.
Treñas further stressed he will not tolerate any drug protector in the barangays.
“Protectors of illegal drugs in the barangays should be arrested,” he said.
The city mayor added the city government has been supportive of the ICPO’s campaign against illegal drugs./PN
