By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

All employees of Silay City government are expected to undergo drug testing after 13 city government workers have tested positive for illegal drug use.

Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego said the four casual employees of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office who tested positive for drug use have been removed from their posts, while a regular city government employee voluntarily resigned.

Gallego said he proposed to have all city government employees screened for illegal drugs.

He added that he seeks further assistance from the Philippine National Police to conduct another series of drug tests for the remaining employees and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod soon.

The mayor also acknowledged that the local government unit had become lax when it comes to requiring drug tests for applicants. 

They will now reinstate drug testing as a requirement for individuals seeking employment in the city government.

The surprise drug tests were ordered following a buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of two city government job order employees earlier this month.

Recovered from the suspects were 13 grams of suspected shabu worth P88,400 and drug paraphernalia.

Earlier, Gallego also fired seven traffic enforcers and an employee of the Silay City Health Office after they tested positive for illegal drugs.

Gallego also warned city government employees not to engage in illegal drugs, adding that he would not hesitate to take appropriate measures if they are caught./DGB, WDJ