DILG chief favors mandatory drug testing for those in govt

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Friday said if he will have his way, he will subject all state employees to a mandatory drug test.

"Palagay ko nga po lahat ng mga nasa gobyerno mag-drug test (I think everyone in the government should undergo a drug test)," Robredo told GMANews.TV during the Metro Manila Business Conference at the Manila Hotel on Friday.

Robredo issued the statement after Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III encouraged public officials to undergo illegal drugs testing.

Sotto voluntarily underwent a drug test and tested negative earlier in the week.

Robredo agreed with Sotto, saying that if government employees and officials want to set a good example to the public, they will follow his suggestion.

"Sabi nga po nila hindi mo pwedeng hingin ang hindi ikaw (Like they say, you cannot ask others to be what you are not)," he said.

Robredo likewise said that when he was mayor of Naga City in Bicol, he underwent a drug test, adding that the local government's police officers had also undergone random drug testing.

"Palagay ko wala naman pong masama na i-subject namin ang sarili namin sa drug test (I don't think there is anything wrong in subjecting ourselves to drug tests)," he said.

Talks bout drug testing among government officials became louder after Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson (1st District) was arrested in Hong Kong last July 11 for allegedly possessing 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of prescription medication Valium.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had deemed unconstitutional the mandatory nature of illegal drugs testing for candidates running for public office.

On Thursday, Malacañang said it was open to the idea of its officials undergoing drug tests in light of Singson's arrest in Hong Kong over drug charges.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III will let heads of agencies in the executive branch tell their employees to undergo drug testing if they find it necessary. (See: Palace open to drug test for officials) — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV


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