Sara Duterte negative for drugs in Davao City hall employees testing

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Hundreds of city hall employees here went through a test for illegal drugs on Wednesday morning, October 11, following Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio’s submission to the same test a day earlier.

The 168 employees were drivers of the city hall, according to a statement from the Davao City Information Office. The tests began on Monday, October 9, with 30 heads of department and officials here.

By Tuesday afternoon, October 10, the mayor herself submitted to a similar test which fielded a negative result for illegal drugs.

“We have to be an example to our society with regard to healthy living, and being clean, and not engaging in drugs,” Duterte-Carpio said.

The tests were mandatory for city hall employees, according to Civil Service Commission Circular 13, which states that government employees, whether plantilla or job orders, are required to undergo the drug test.

Duterte-Carpio said employees who will field a positive result will be referred to the city’s Anti-Drug Council for rehabilitation.

A termination could be likely, she said, “but we will definitely asses his records and consider many factors, including the length of service.”

In October last year, Duterte-Carpio’s brother Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was accused of being a drug user at a Senate probe and was challenged to undergo a drug test. – Rappler.com