Nabbed employee in drug ops not neglected – DPWH Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 12 (PNA) -– The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) did its best to help an employee recently nabbed for peddling illegal drugs.

Roel Adobas, 45, heavy equipment operator accepted the offer to submit himself to treatment and rehabilitation, but he only joined four weekly sessions in seven months.

“In fact, Adobas was not one of the 23 employees who were tested positive during our surprise drug test in August 2015. He did not show up in our general assembly, sensing that there would be a drug test,” recalled District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia.

In a letter, the suspect confessed that he’s a drug dependent, prompting the DPWH field office to include him in the outpatient program of the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Dulag, Leyte.

“Despite efforts to help him abandon illegal drugs, he always tested positive of drugs use in every random test and made a lot of absences during sessions,” Junia said.

In a May 2016 progress report, the DOH-TRC categorized Adobas’ addiction as “severe” and he’s not anymore fit to undergo the outpatient program.

On July 6, operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Maasin City Police arrested Adobas in a buy-bust operation in Combado village, this city.

A PDEA agent, who acted as pusher buyer, purchased from the suspect two pieces of plastic sachet containing shabu.

Adobas is now temporarily detained at the Maasin City police station jail, while, facing a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Junia lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for ordering a crackdown of illegal drug activities in the country. The district office has been pushing for a drug-free workplace.

To recall, 23 employees were found positive of illegal drugs use – 17 job order workers and six permanent personnel during the August 17, 2015 drug test.

This was the first drug test initiated by a DPWH field office in the country.

Junia initiated assisting in the recovery process of 23 workers giving them “chances to change”, but only 16 of them opted join the weekly outpatient service program (OPS) sessions being done by DOH-TRC.

The district office had required permanent employees to undergo a mandatory rehabilitation program. Dismissed job order workers are given the option to go through the recovery process.

The SLDEO provided a space at the SLDEO Area Equipment Service compound for the conduct of weekly session for drug users. The session, which started on October 2015, will conclude on August 2016, according to DOH-TRC. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/DPWH-PR/EGR