Palace welcomes drug testing for gov’t workers

A Palace official on Saturday welcomed calls for a mandatory drug testing for all government employees, amid the administrations’ relentless war on criminality.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said an obligatory drug testing for state workers would be a “symbolic act,” as it would increase the public’s confidence on the people running the government.

“Personally, siyempre I do not give my own personal opinion but that is a welcome development. Hindi po ba? Just to prove to the people na lahat ng mga tao natin ay maayos naman. So that should not be a deterrent, but also more than that, it’s not a question of exposing but it’s a question of expressing, it’s a symbolic act,” Abella said when asked about the proposal.

“It’s a very powerful symbolic act, na pinapakita natin na tayong mga nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay maayos na mga tao ‘yan at they are people worthy of our trust. Kasi ‘yun naman talaga ang priority ng Presidente, na maisoli ‘yung trust and faith in the government,” he added.

A nationwide drug testing was administered last week following the assumption of office of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa, where at least 11 policemen tested positive.

The Army was also investigating 13 of its personnel who failed the initial screening of mandatory drug test conducted recently at Fort Bonifacio in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Duterte won the elections in a landslide, with a platform deeply rooted on a relentless war on drugs and criminality, including shoot-to-kill orders against drug lords and peddlers.

The President recently named five retired and active police generals who were alleged drug perpetrators and three alleged “top tier” drug lords operating in the country, adding mayors and other local officials were also involved in illegal drug trade.