24 Oct DOJ NorthMin Conducts Suprise Mandatory Drug Test To Prosecutors and Employees
On October 21, Friday morning, a surprise mandatory drug tests were conducted to almost 100 prosecutors and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Northern Mindanao.
The drug test was conducted in time for the prosecutors’ regional conference at Grand Caprice, Cagayan de Oro City.
This, in support to Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, Regional State Prosecutor Jaime Umpa said. As he spoke, “This is pursuant to the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte that all public officials must undergo a drug test and our justice secretary issued a department order that all prosecutors and their staff of DOJ must participate in the drug test.”
Other prosecutors and staff, who are in their respective localities to work as a skeletal force, were also ordered to undergo a drug test in the nearest crime laboratories.
A written explanation should be submitted to the Regional Prosecutors Office (RPO) and to the secretary of justice for those who fails to undergo the drug test, said Umpa.
Umpa stated, “No exemption even katong mga prosecutors nga naa sa Cebu are also directed to go to the nearest laboratory for the drug test to be fair sa lahat.”
Prosecutors who participated in the drug tests should submit the original copies of the results to their respective offices through courier services to guarantee that the results were not altered.
Umpa stated, “To me, it would be considered perhaps that he or she is positive or maybe using illegal drugs if one evades the drug test. Baka he is hiding something from us.”
Once the prosecutor nor employee is found positive should undergo a confirmatory drug test to establish probable cause, Umpa said, adding that if confirmed to be positive for illegal drugs use will face administrative and criminal charges which may result in termination from service. As he spoke, “Pag found positive they will be charged administratively pwedeng grave misconduct maraming grounds sa administrative cases. Sa criminal pwede ring makulong.”
Umpa stated, “Through the drug test, we have to prove to the nation that since we are the ones investigating and prosecuting drug cases we have to show to our people that we are drug-free.”
News Source: Sun.Star
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