8 capitol employees flunk drug test; more test kits to be procured

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said eight capitol workers tested positive after the two-day mandatory drug test conducted on employees early this week.

Diaz also told reporters on Wednesday that there were 20 “gray results” which could also mean positive but these must be subjected to confirmatory testing.

Of the eight, Diaz said seven were positive for using methamphetamine hydrochloride, a type of amphetamine that is also known as “poor man’s cocaine or shabu,” while another was positive for marijuana.

He added that he has the names of the eight but it has yet to be determined whether they are job order, contract of service, or regular employees.

Diaz said that what was only written in the result was where they took the test and not what department they belonged to.

He also said that the eight will be subjected to confirmatory testing before any sanction will be imposed against them.

Job order and contract of service employees who are found positive for drug use will no longer be rehired or renewed by the provincial government next year while regular employees will face administrative sanctions.

Diaz said a total of 2300 capitol employees took the mandatory drug test conducted Monday and Tuesday this week.

He added there will be another round of drug tests that will be conducted among the capitol employees in the provincial government-run hospitals “but it has to wait as there are not enough drug test kits left.”