KORONADAL CITY (PNA) – Fourteen government workers were dismissed from service in a local government unit in South Cotabato after six of them were found positive of illegal drug use and eight who ignored a local government memorandum, officials said.
Edmund Deala, human resource management officer, said those who did not show up for drug test were dismissed since no valid reason was forwarded to the office.
Earlier, Banga Mayor Palencia ordered the mandatory drug test in support to the national government’s campaign to rid the country of illegal drug personalities.
Six who were found positive and those who ignored the memorandum and automatically dismissed were all job order workers.
Deala said some regular workers who were out on official business, others were sick and with valid reasons to undergo drug testing at a later day.
He quoted Palencia that regular workers who did not show up for no valid reason at all will be penalized.
The job order workers cease reporting to office on the last working day of August, according to Deala.
About 800 civilians have showed up to police offices in Banga town to signify their intention to do away with illegal drugs. Several persons, including those in police watchlist, were arrested and charged accordingly.