ZAMBOANGA CITY–Reelected Liga ng mga Barangay President Jerry Perez on Thursday said the surprise random drug testing on barangay officials will continue in this city.
Perez, who ran unopposed on Monday’s local barangay league election, said the random drug testing aims to ensure that village officials äre not involved in illegal drugs.
Perez said that so far, nine barangay employees have been found positive for illegal drug use during the random drug tests conducted last week in different villages here.
He said they included seven village watchmen (barangay tanods) from Barangay Sta. Barbara; one village watchman from Rio Hondo; and, a utility worker from Sta. Catalina. It was conducted in coordination with the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
On the other hand, Perez said there were 30 newly-elected village chairpersons in this city’s 98 barangays.
The other elected Liga ng mga Barangay officials are Efigenio Julian of Pasonanca and Jose Alavar of Vitali, who were re-elected vice president and auditor, respectively. Like Perez, the two officials also ran unopposed on Monday’s barangay league election.
Perez, who is from Barangay Putik, garnered 89 votes while both Julian and Alavar got 84 votes.
Elected as Board of Directors are: Raphael Apolinario, Cabaluay; Angelica Inot, Boalan; John Dalipe, Tetuan; Ronald Maravilla, Labuan; El King Omaga, Calarian; Los Eli Angeles, Sta Maria; and, Pilarica Ledesma, Sinunuc. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)
