Village chief’s drug tests ‘invalid’

LOPEZ

CEBU City Hall won’t honor the results of a drug test which Busay barangay captain Amilo Lopez took in a private hospital that found him negative of illegal drugs use.

Dr. Alice Utlang, chief of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), said they will continue to base their results on the surprise drug test which her office conducted on 60 barangay officials during their assembly last week.

“I won’t honor the result (of the second drug test) because based on guidelines of the crime lab and even with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the effect of illegal drugs is only two to three days. So it means that if you used it now, by Monday or next week, it cannot be determined anymore,” she said.

Last Monday, Lopez said he went to Chong Hua Hospital to have himself tested again for shabu and marijuana use. The results showed negative.

Lopez earlier cried foul over the Cosap’s test results which found him positive of shabu use.

He said the results may have been caused by the maintenance medicines he is taking.

He also questioned why the result was leaked when it should have remained confidential.

“I’m still waiting for my lawyer. I can’t do anything if they won’t honor it. But they should stand on their decision. I’m planning on filing a case kay gipakauwawan gyud ko nila (because they put me to shame),” Lopez said.

But Utlang explained that they will stand by their decision.

She said they have already sent the remaining urine sample of Lopez to Manila for confirmatory tests together with a list of the medicines and doctor’s prescription of the barangay chairman.

They expect the results to be released within two weeks to one month.

Utlang said Lopez already visited her office to present his list of prescribed maintenance medicines.