Pubdate: Fri, 05 Oct 2012
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2012 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073

METRO MANILA MAYORS WILLING TO TAKE DRUG TESTING

The 13 mayors of Metro Manila are willing to undergo drug testing to
erase doubts of drug use among local chief executives.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri, chairman of the Regional
Peace and Order Council in Metro Manila, gave Interior and Local
Government Secretary Manuel Roxas and Undersecretary for Local
Government Austere Panadero this assurance to dramatize the mayor's
support for the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

Echiverri, in a press statement, said the metro mayors have seriously
taken up the problem of drug abuse, particularly among local officials.

In a Sept. 26 meeting at the Hotel Rembrant in Quezon City, the
regional peace and order council passed a resolution in support of a
drug-free city government.

"Drugs don't work within the workforce," Echiverri said. He added that
candidates in the 2013 mid-term elections must submit themselves for
drug testing despite the ruling of the Commission on Elections that it
is no longer required.

He said the council stressed the importance of drug testing and the
need for the participation of the candidates.

"The 2013 candidates who believe in the antidrug drive must follow not
only the law but also the dictates of their conscience," he added.

"We have to elect mayors, vice mayors and other local officials who
are not drug addicts," he said.

Other local government officials present during the meeting were
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista; Pateros Mayor Jaime Medina; Pasig
Mayor Robert Eusebio; Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano; Marikina Mayor del
De Guzman; Malabon Mayor Len Oreta; and Pasay City Mayor Antonio
Calixto. Manila, Las Pinas, Paranaque, San Pedro and Mandaluyong City
sent their representatives.
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MAP posted-by: Matt