With just a week to go before the Oct. 28 barangay (village) elections, two Quezon City councilors have proposed a measure that will make drug testing mandatory for candidates.
In their draft resolution, Jose Mario Don de Leon and Jesus Manuel Suntay explained that by requiring candidates for barangay posts to undergo drug testing, “the public will know the quality of candidates they are electing and they will be assured that only those who can serve with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency will be elected to hold public office.”
Both asked for support from their peers as they cited the local government’s advocacy for a drug-free environment, the rationale behind the random drug testing of employees in all of the city’s workplaces.
“Barangays are no exception to the case. In order to fulfill their duties and responsibilities properly, candidates for punong barangay (barangay chair) and sangguniang barangay (barangay councilman)” should be tested for drugs, they said.
According to the councilors, barangay officials who lead the community are considered role models and should therefore be drug-free.
“We need reasonable tools to stop drug pushers and drug dealers from ruining the seat of the local government. The conduct of drug testing will eliminate all doubts [about] barangay officials being involved in illegal acts,” they said.
Should the measure be approved, a copy will be forwarded to the Quezon City Barangay Operations Center for proper dissemination.