300 QC barangay officers, staff test positive for drugs

Hundreds of barangay (village) officers and staff members in Quezon City have tested positive for using illegal drug, an official has revealed. RAFFY LERMA

Two barangay (village) councilors and more than 170 Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSO) in Quezon City tested positive for illegal drugs, a drug test conducted by the city government revealed.

Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Ricky Corpuz told members of the media in a press conference on Tuesday that two village councilors and 172 BPSOs (barangay tanods) were among the 303 barangay staff members from the city who tested positive for drugs.

As of Tuesday, more than 7,000 employees have been subjected to a drug test. These came from 106 out of the 142 barangays in the city. The drug testing was mandated by city ordinance SP2460, or the Implementation of a Drug-Free Workplace Program, authored by Corpuz.

“All those who tested positive will undergo a drug dependency evaluation to determine their level of drug use,” Corpuz explained, adding that they would have to undergo rehabilitation.

Corpuz expressed hope that they would be drug-free in six months.

“They will be reinstated once they are well but if they are not rehabilitated, they will be dismissed,” the ABC president said.

Corpuz said all who tested positive for drug use, including drivers and utility personnel, had been informed of the result.

According to Corpuz, “appropriate sanctions” would be meted out to the erring officers. The two village councilors face suspension for being elected officials.

After undergoing rehab for three to six months, these individuals will be given the option to start a business or study under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) or Tesda.

“This will be for their sustainability. We will constantly monitor them,” Corpuz added.

Aside from barangay officials and staff members, the more than 14,000 employees at the Quezon City Hall are also set to complete their drug test this week.

Corpuz said he was positive that in nine months, Quezon City would be drug-free, especially with the help of the local government, the police and barangay officials.