More than 400 bar and club owners in Quezon City have agreed to support the local government’s war on drugs by providing information to the police on drug-related activities in their establishments.
In a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte sought their help and support since bars and clubs “were the usual venues [for] events where party drugs proliferate.”
“We are meeting the vulnerable sectors and they are part of it,” Belmonte said, noting that the businessmen could help the government and police identify drug pushers and users in their establishments.
Perry Mariano, head of the Association of Club Owners in Quezon City, expressed their willingness to cooperate with authorities on their campaign against drugs.
He, however, lamented previous instances in which some of the members of their association reported to the police criminal activities which were never acted upon.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) head Senior Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, who was also present during the meeting, assured the businessmen that this would not be case.
“If there will be information given to us, we will verify and validate that. Then we can either conduct a buy-bust operation or secure a search warrant,” Eleazar said.
According to him, the QCPD District Intelligence Division was already validating reports sent to their office.
Random drug tests pushed
Aside from seeking the cooperation of bar owners, the local government also pushed a proposed ordinance asking business establishments to “adhere to a drug-free Quezon City.”
Introduced by Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto, the Quezon City Business Establishment Drug-Free Ordinance of 2016 will cover KTV bars, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, spas and massage parlors within the city’s jurisdiction. It will require these business establishments and others employing 10 or more employees to subject them to random drug tests.
Should any worker test positive for drugs, Belmonte said it would be up to the business owner to decide what to do. At the same time, she stressed that the city government was prepared to provide guidance in terms of rehabilitation and treatment.
Violators would be fined P5,000 or face the cancelation of their business permits.
During the meeting, some of the owners asked if the drug test could be included in their health certificate. Belmonte said this was one of the options the city was also considering.
According to her, they would subject to mandatory drug testing the city’s vulnerable sectors beginning with the transport sector, especially tricycle drivers. “We also want to include those working in [call centers], construction workers and even schools,” Belmonte said.
Local officials and the police earlier met with the heads of over 500 homeowners associations in subdivisions, villages and condominiums, leading to an agreement on how “Oplan Tokhang” would be conducted in these places.