7 public hospital workers in Negros Occidental test positive for drug use

BACOLOD CITY—At least seven employees in two provincial government-run hospitals in Negros Occidental have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, in an interview on Wednesday, said at least five of these employees worked at Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City while two were employed at Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City.

Diaz said five tests returned positive for “shabu” (crystal meth) use while two were for marijuana.

This brings to 27 the Negros Occidental provincial government employees who tested positive for drugs just this December, Diaz said.

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Employees in other hospitals overseen by the provincial government will also be subjected to drug tests next year.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said regular government employees who tested positive for drug use would be subjected to administrative hearings.

Lacson said the contracts of job order, casual and contract of service workers, on the other hand, would not be renewed, he said. —CARLA GOMEZ INQ