33 gov’t workers who flunked drug test ‘surrender’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – “Huhulihin ko kayo and I mean it. Huwag niyo ako i-dare.”

This was the warning of Police Colonel Noel Aliño, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), to some government employees here who earlier tested positive for illegal drug use but failed to surrender to the authorities despite his initial warning.

“Matigas ulo niyo. Binigyan kayo ng chance to surrender. Mga tarantado,” Aliño said, as he reiterated his call for them to surrender and avail of the government’s rehabilitation program.

The Bacolod City government conducted random drug testing on 705 government employees, mostly job order casual workers, from July 28 to August 1.

The test results indicated that 53 employees were positive for illegal drug use, including 32 personnel from the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), and 21 workers from the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO).

Aliño said that only 33 out of 53 government employees voluntarily surrendered to the police.

The “surrenderers” included 16 BTAO personnel and 17 POSO workers.

Aliño said that these workers will be subjected to surveillance and will be included in the drugs watchlist.

“If evidence warrants, we will file a case,” he added.

Aliño said they will be evaluated to determine the extent of their usage of illegal drugs. “May process kasi. They can undergo voluntary rehabilitation kasi we have a rehab program,” he added.

Aliño said that when he gives a warning he is serious about it, especially if it’s about the war against illegal drugs.

“Please make sure na kaya niyo ako. Kung hindi niyo ako mapaalis, uunahin ko kayo, huhulihin ko kayo,” he said.

Aliño stressed that it’s time to end this problem. “Hirap na hirap kami mag operate. It’s time na matapos na ito,” he said.

He stressed the importance of identifying the sources and linkages of illegal drugs to put an end to the problem.