Mambaling dad faces axe over drug test

A barangay councilman of Mambaling in Cebu City is under fire for allegedly avoiding a surprise drug test conducted by Cebu City Hall last week.

During the barangay’s session yesterday morning, the barangay council wants barangay councilman Emier Hamis to formally explain why he didn’t submit himself to the drug testing.

“All councilors, including the secretary and treasurer were present. When it was time to pass the urine sample, Hamis walked out of the venue without asking permission from Dr. Utlang and even before the session was adjourned,” said Mambaling councilwoman Ann Vestil-Palomo, who delivered a privilege speech during the barangay’s session
yesterday.

Palomo said Hamis may be administratively liable for not showing up during the drug test which is mandatory for all barangays in Cebu City.

The mandatory drug testing was conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap), which is headed by Dr. Alice Utlang.

Barangay Captain Wilfredo Go said that since last week, Hamis hasn’t been attending meetings in the barangay including yesterday’s session.

Sought for comment, Hamis explained that his leaving during the drug testing was just a coincidence since he said he had a medical emergency.

“I wasn’t expecting that during the surprise drug test, my cholesterol level will also rise. That’s why I had to be admitted to a hospital. But I am not afraid to take a drug test,” he said.

Hamis said he decided not to attend the barangay’s meetings since he learned that right after last week’s drug test, his colleagues in the barangay council stripped him of his committees in the barangay council.

Hamis used to head the committee on sports and development and also used to be the co-chairperson of the committees on peace and order and environment.

For his part, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said Cosap will still be conducting a special and more expensive drug testing for Hamis. Instead of getting his urine sample, Osmeña said Cosap will use his hair for the drug test.

He said traces of illegal drugs in urine may easily fade after three days. But with hair, he said the traces of shabu will remain longer and may still be detected.

“It will be supervised by City Health and Mary Ann. Only him because he escaped the drug test. He showed me his doctor’s certificate that he was fainting. I said, ‘okay, no problem.’ But I told him, ‘I’ll make you undergo the drug test’,” Osmeña said.