Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and 23 members of the City Council undergo drug testing at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday, September 6. All of them tested negative for illegal drugs. (Maria Patricia C. Borromeo/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY— Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and 23 members of the city council were tested negative for illegal drugs in a test held on Tuesday, September 6 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency XI Director Adzhar Albani, who facilitated the drug test, confirmed that none of the 23 councilors, including Vice Mayor Duterte, tested positive for illegal drugs.
“All present, including the Vice Mayor is negative for dangerous drugs,” Albani said.
However, three other city councilors were not able to undergo drug testing because of prior engagement and emergency leave.
The three councilors are Councilor Mabel Acosta who was on official business since August; Councilor Rene Elias Lopez was on domestic emergency leave and Councilor January Duterte, wife of Vice Mayor Duterte, who was in Manila for a medical checkup.
Duterte said that those who were absent during the testing should still undergo a drug testing. He warned that any councilor who would test positive for illegal drugs might be terminated from service.
“Those councilors who will be positive in illegal drugs will be put in record, since this is mandatory, those who will be positive will undergo process, but maybe they will be terminated,” he said.
During the regular session of the City Council, Councilor Bernard Al-ag said that if a member of the council will have positive result, he or she would face administrative charges.
“According to the civil service law, any government officials or employees who has a positive drug result will be charge administratively under the civil service law, he can be suspend or even terminated,” Al-ag said.
Al-ag said that the councilors who will have a positive result on drugs will be penalized under the Republic Act 9165 also known as Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
During the previous City Council session last August 30, Vice Mayor Duterte ordered to conduct a mandatory drug testing to all city councilors.
Duterte said that the mandatory drug test is a support for the massive campaign of his father, President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs. (davaotoday.com)
