By Charissa Luci-Atienza

Leaders of the House of Representatives have rallied behind the proposed conduct of mandatory drug testing among all the members of the House of Representatives.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Minority Leader Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. threw their support behind this proposal of Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. that was made during the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs’ first organizational meeting yesterday.

“There was an SC decision on the mandatory drug testing, they declared it as unconstitutional, but now there is no prohibition that we can file it again and pass it into law and let the Supreme Court decide because the needs of the times have changed,” Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs said in an interview.

During the organizational meeting, Barzaga said he “would be filing a resolution requesting that all the members of the House of Representatives be subjected to random drug testing.”

He even asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to issue a memorandum requiring all governors, mayors and barangay officials to conduct random drug testing under the “supervision and direction” of the DILG.

“This is one way of preventing our politicians from being drug dependent, at the same time we can restore confidence to our people,” Barzaga said.

“I think all the law enforcement agencies should also conduct random drug testing in so far as their personnel are concerned,” he added.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director General for Operations Gregorio Pimentel said “with open arms”, they welcomed Barzaga’s recommendation.

He noted that there was already a drug-free workplace policy issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Citing that public office was a public trust, AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. proposed that all elected public officials undergo mandatory drug testing.

“I hope we make it mandatory on those elected public officials. We say that public office is a public trust and they should all times be accountable to people,” he said.

Barbers expressed his panel’s unwavering support to the proposal that would make drug tests mandatory among all public officials.

“If we want a mandatory drug test to all the drivers, politicians and all those who wish to run for public office , we must come up with a law. The committee will definitely support that,” he said.

Barzaga explained that a “simple memorandum” from DILG could impose the penalties against public officials who will refuse to undergo drug testing.

“A simple memo coming from Secretary (Eduardo) Año would have the effect of the law, and he can state that those public officials who refuse to submit to random drug testing, they can be suspended, they can be terminated for cause, considering the program of the present government is the eradication of the drug problem,” he said.

“A presumption arises such that you refusal is based on the fact that you are a drug dependent,” he pointed out.

In a press conference, Abante said he was supporting Barzaga’s proposal.

“I am very much in favor of that. It is about time that that our government leaders undergo drug testing, not just the House members, but also the senators,” he said.