GAPAN CITY mayor Emary Joy Pascual (center-with blazer) submits her urine sample during a random drug-testing activity
which she led along with members of the city council at the city hall on Monday. Photo courtesy of GAPAN CITY-LGU.
Gapan mayor leads mass random drug testing at city hall
GAPAN CITY — City Mayor Emary Joy D. Pascual led the mass random drug-testing of all employees during the city government’s first flag-raising rites here on Monday, January 9.
“Bawal ang adik sa Gapan, bawal ang adik sa city hall,” Pacual told the employees as she announced that all of them, including her, Vice Mayor Inocencio T. Bautista Jr., and members of the city council will be subjected to the drug-testing.
“Ang sabi kanina sa panunumpa sa katungkulan buong husay kong gagampanan ang iyong trabaho at katungkulan sa gobyerno, paano mo magagampanan iyon ng buong husay kung addict ka, kaya dapat bawal ang addict sa Lungsod ng Gapan at lalong bawal ang empleyadong addict dito sa city hall ng Gapan,” said the former board member-turned city mayor, who is a younger sister of neophyte Congressman Emerson “Emeng” Pascual, of the province’s fourth district.
On Tuesday the next day, Pascual warned employees to take the drug test until 5 p.m. that same day after being told by city health practitioner Dr. Augusto M. Pangilinan that about 200 of them, including permanent and casual workers, have yet to undergo drug-testing.
Her Tuesday’s ultimatum came as three of her city hall employees have so far tested positive for illegal drugs, it was learned.
“Sabi ko nga po kung ikaw ay empleyado may sakit ka ngayon, pupuntahan ka namin sa bahay nasa Gapan ka lang naman, kung ikaw ay nasa bakasyon, sabihin mo kung ano oras lapag mo sa airport sasalubungin ka namin sa airport kailangang magpa-drug test kasi naniniwala ako malinis tayo dapat dito sa Lungsod ng Gapan,” said Pascual.
She further warned that employees who would fail to beat the 5 p.m. Tuesday drug-testing deadline would be considered resigned.
“Kapag hindi kayo nagpa-drug test hanggang ngayon 5 p.m. (Tuesday), kinokonsidera ko na nag-re-resign na kayo sa trabaho niyo dito sa city hall, drug test lang ito kung malinis kang tao wala kang ginagawang masama bakit ka matatakot, the lady mayor added.
The drug-testing activity was conducted with the assistance of the local police headed by city police chief Lt. Col. Wilmar M. Binag and the provincial crime laboratory office.
