Mayor Joseph Estrada sacked yesterday five members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) who tested positive for drug use.
Estrada announced the termination of Rommel Santos, 40; Randy Luangco, 28; Marcelo Tinao, 39; John Lennon Dalisay, 27; and Enrico Dalisay, 39, based on the drug test report released by the Department of Health-accredited ACC Drug Testing Center in Ermita.
“Government work is a serious business. We have no room for drug addicts,” Estrada said.
“We have no recourse but to dismiss them. They know the rules- no ifs, no buts. This is a very serious breach of Civil Service rules,” he added.
The five were part of the 240 MTPB enforcers who were subjected to a surprise drug test on April 24.
Estrada said those who tested negative will be receiving certificates confirming they are “100 percent clean” but warned that he would be watching them more closely.
“Lagi ninyong tatandaan na ang lahat ng ginagawa ninyo, ang mga kilos ninyo sa publiko, lahat ‘yan ay nire-report sa akin,” he said.
After the April 24 surprise drug test, MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said they will continue to conduct random drug testing at least twice a year to ensure that no drug user will be able to penetrate their ranks.
He said MTPB applicants will be subjected to drug test as requirement for employment. (Jaimie Rose R. Aberia)