PARAGAS: WHY NOT A NATIONAL DRUG TESTING LAW?

It lifts the spirit to hear that leaders from various sectors here are
treating (for the nth time?) the illegal drugs menace as a major
concern requiring immediate and undivided attention it seriously deserves.

The revitalized Vice Mayors' League of Pangasinan headed by Dagupan
Vice MayorAlvin Fernandez has committed itself to undertake sustained
anti-drugs action plans in coordination with the Kill Droga movers and
the Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Coordinating Council (Padacc) chaired
by Gov. Victor E. Agbayani.

Also doing their level best in licking the social scourge are the
Narcotics Command and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
led by Chief Inspector Christoper Abrahano as PDEA provincial office.

Abrahano's men recently "weathered all odds" when they conducted a
buy-bust operation, which resulted in the arrest of a former town
mayor suspected to be in the big league of illegal drugs traders.

In virtually risking their lives while pursuing the alleged drug
felon, Abrahano and his courageous men demonstrated an act of
enforcing the law without fear or favor, which is worthy of emulation.

Abrahano hits the nail right on the head in claiming that his group
"psychologically sent chills down the spines of both the big fishes
and the underlings in the illegal drug business because we do not
choose whom to arrest."

Abrahano's no-fear, no-favor policy is likened to the ZT (for zero
tolerance) rule initiated in the province several years ago by then
PNP provincial chief Joel Goltiao.

With the ZT policy against the drug menace virtually set in place,
will drug-related cases in the province and its two cities be pared
down to an all time low?

We submit that for the anti-drugs campaign to take roots and gain
headways, action plans should be carried out in all fronts, targeting
not only the youth, students and those from the underworld, but also
the employed sectors - meaning those in private firms and the public
hire (elected or appointed).

That some government workers, including barangay officials, soldiers
and policemen, are linked to the drug trade as reported in the news
media should warrant the launching of a drug-free government campaign.

The compartmentalized policy of the requiring candidates for elective
post to undergo compulsory drug tests and "lightning" or on-the-spot
requirement for law enforcers to submit to drug exams strike an
admiring chord on the hearts of citizens.

Since they sit well with the people, we might as well expand the
"class rules" and have these institutionalized into one set of a
national law to be called The Illegal Drugs Testing Law as a mandatory
requisite in the hiring, election and appointment of people seeking
government and private positions.

A provision of the proposed law may also require the annual drug
testing of all public and private workers to flush out who among them
are candidates for summary dismissal or for rehabilitation.

Worthy of citation is a local ordinance adopted by the Alcala
Municipal Council, requiring all applicants for government posts to
undergo drug test. The edict also mandates that applicants for health
and occupational permits should go through the same tests. Failure to
pass the tests and non-compliance with requirements would serve as
basis in denying their applications.

Will the honorable gentleman and ladies of the provincial board please
cite the "Alcala experience" in asking by way of a resolution Congress
to enact the proposed drugs testing law?

As a growing social cancer, the drug problem needs a system of
effective monitoring and regulation. Again, we submit that the
proposed law can help bolster the promotion of a drug-free government
for a drug-free society.