By Jel Santos
Thirteen “Blue Boys” or traffic enforcers of Pasig City on Friday tested positive for illegal drug use in a surprise drug test, Mayor Vico Sotto said.
Sotto said all the 700 traffic enforcers of the city underwent the drug test before their deployment to their respective areas.
Meanwhile, those who were dispatched at that time were reportedly pulled out their posts and were told to go to the Tanghalang Pasigueño where the drug test was conducted.
The 700 blue boys were surprised after they were directed to go to the Pasig City and pulled out from their respective posts on all the roads in the city.
“Should the 13 traffic enforcers test positive again in the confirmatory test, they will be forced to undergo rehabilitation which the local government will shoulder,” he said.
"Their removal from their posts will be in accordance with the Civil Service Law. It will undergo process," Sotto added.
The mayor has asked the public for their understanding as the surprise drug test had caused heavy traffic congestion in the city, saying such is the only way to make sure the integrity of the test on all the blue boys.
“I am appealing for the patience of the public. We cannot do it by batch because some of them might get through. That’s why I tapped the police to man the traffic, “he said.
Lieutenant Jose Drexell Molina , Pasig Police Traffic Department chief, said he dispatched all their traffic enforcers and has asked the help of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Highway Patrol Group as augmentation.
In 2016, Valenzuela Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian did the same thing when he required all employees of the city hall to undergo a drug test. A total of 59 city hall employees in Valenzuela, who tested positive for drug use, were fired as Gatchalian promised to terminate their employment.
Sotto, like Gatchalian, will not abandon enforcers as they will be helped to cope with their addiction.
"We are still open to accept them at the City Hall if they will really change. But I will be very, very strict with them and they will be required to undergo drug test once they get hired again," he said.