GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A total of 51 elected municipal councilors in Sarangani Province have yielded negative for illegal drug use based on the results of drug tests commissioned by the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) provincial federation.
Kath Abad, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Region 12 public information officer, said Monday the 51 councilors comprise the initial batch of PCL members who underwent the tests late last month.
She said the drug tests were conducted by PDEA-12 personnel during a PCL chapter gathering held at the Sun City Suites here.
At least 18 councilors from the province’s seven municipalities have yet to undergo the tests, she said.
Abad said the PCL Sarangani Federation is the first of four provincial and five city chapters in Region 12 that requested for the drug tests.
Also known as Soccsksargen, the region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
She said the group specifically passed a resolution requesting the PDEA-12 to conduct drug tests for its members.
It adopted guidelines assuring that the group will abide by the rules and policies set by the Dangerous Drug Board and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in case any of its members would test positive of using drugs, she said.
Malungon councilor Joseph Calanao, PCL Sarangani Federation president, their members pushed for the move to address speculations that there are elected councilors in the province who are drug dependents.
He said it was also aimed to erase possible suspicions that some of them could be involved in illegal drug-related activities.
Calanao cited that they were all mandated to undergo drug tests based on the provisions of Section 36 (d) of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act and CSC Resolution 101359.
They specifically called for all public officials to undergo drug test to ensure a drug-free government service, he said.
“Rest assured that other members who were not able to undergo the initial tests will also take them soon,” he added. (PNA)
