Capitol employees face suspension for office shabu session

A preventive suspension and administrative charges await the two Capitol employees caught using shabu in the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).

Lito Astillero, chairman of the Committee on Discipline and Investigation (CODI), said in a press conference that the administrative charges will be filed on Monday against Cirilo Abrenica and Cyril Solita.

The two will be given five days to file their counter affidavit.

The committee is composed of Astillero, PPDO head Engr. Adolfo Quiroga, Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin and Provincial Human Resources head Noli Valencia.

Also present in the investigation were the two blue guards, Rosalio Tigle and Roel Illustrisimo who reported the incident.

Abrenica also showed up wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap and a jacket as he avoided the media.

Astillero said there was security camera footage showing the employees entering the Capitol premises and the PPDO.

All the evidence recovered will be turned over the police, said Astillero, who didn’t rule out criminal charges against the two employees.

He said the two blue guards will be required to explain their side on the incident.

Astillero said he already issued a memorandum to his staff reminding them that no one could enter their office after working hours without his authorization.

He said Quiroga clarified that he didn’t authorize the two employees to enter the office.

Astillero said before the incident there was already a plan to conduct random drug testing on Capitol employees.

“Before this incident, we talked with Provincial Security Consultant Jose Ma. Gastardo about random drug testing so that the anti-drugs campaign will also be done in-house,” he said.

Abrenica and Solita will undergo a drug test to verify if they use drugs. Abrenica told the CODI yesterday that it was Solita who brought the “shabu” at that time. Solita has not showed up during yesterday’s investigation.

Astillero said the Capitol is welcoming any investigation by the Ombudsman-Visayas on the incident.