MAYOR SENDS DRUG ADDICT-WORKERS TO REHAB

BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental -- In a surprising and unexpected move,
Mayor Hector "Tata" Villanueva has admitted there are indeed employees
of the City Government who are drug dependents after he extensively
started "house cleaning" City Hall.

The mayor boldly said that as a result of the extensive "house
cleaning" he has netted an initial batch of suspected drug addicts
working as casuals at the City Government.

He refused to divulge the names of the casual employees who are
believed hooked on drugs.

He said that when he "summoned" the initial eight employees, he had
them chose to go to jail or to the rehabilitation center.

He said all chose to be sent to the drug rehabilitation center in
Dumaguete City.

The mayor said he is still looking for other employees who are hooked
on drugs.

He said that no one will be spared from the anti-drug campaign even if
he or she is a "supporter" of the mayor.

He said that punishing these drug-dependent employees will not solve
the problem, but sending them to the rehabilitation center is a better
alternative that might give a chance to the individual to reform and
successfully stay away from drugs.

However, he said for those considered "hard core" or are already
heavily into drugs and those engaged in selling will be punished and
sent to jail.

"I pity these people because these are the very same people that need
guidance and help from us," the mayor stressed in the same interview.

Presently, the eight are still relying on funds at the
center.

But Villanueva stressed that beginning January next year, he will
allocate some amount to be donated to the foundation and will extend
help to the "housed" drug dependents.