CEBU CITY – The city government of Cebu terminated five job order (JO) personnel after they tested positive for illegal drug use during a recent surprise drug test.
JOB order personnel of the Cebu City Markets Operations Division show up for a surprise drug test at the City Hall. Five workers flunked the test and were terminated. (Cebu City PIO)
The terminated JO workers were from the Markets Operations Division (MOD).
Robert Barquilla, chief of MOD, said the firing of the five workers should serve as a warning to all employees under his office that drug users have no place in the city government.
“There is no room for drug users especially when they are in public service. When an employee gets into a vice, delivery of services will be affected,” said Barquilla.
The surprise drug test was conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention for all JO personnel of the MOD last week.
The random drug testing stemmed from reports that there are illegal drug users among MOD workers.
A total of 130 JO personnel underwent the random test.
The conduct of surprise drug testing for Cebu City government employees is mandated under City Ordinance No. 1829.
The ordinance was authored by the late Mayor Edgardo Labella when he was still city councilor.