Random drug test will do for govt workers — Binay

Amid talks of mandatory drug testing for those working in government, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said it will be enough to just conduct random illegal-drug tests in government offices nationwide. "Random pwede na yun eh. Kasi ang presumption naman diyan ang government employee hindi naman adik yan (Random drug tests will do because the presumption we have is that government employees are not addicts)," Binay told reporters during the Metro Manila Business Conference held at the Manila Hotel on Friday. Binay issued the statement after Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said that if he were to have his way, he would subject all state employees to a mandatory drug test. Talks bout drug testing among government officials became louder after Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson (1st District) was arrested in Hong Kong last July 11 for being in possession of 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of prescription medication Valium. More practical In the same interview, Binay said mandatory tests should be only for government officials and employees who are suspected of using illegal drugs. "Yung mga pinagsususpetsahan, yun dapat. Pero kung wala namang suspetsa, random can do (If they are suspected to be using illegal drugs, they should be tested. If not, random tests will do)," he said. He likewise noted that random drug tests are more practical because the regular conduct of such tests would be expensive. Earlier in the week, Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III voluntarily underwent a drug test and tested negative. He also encouraged public officials to do the same. On Thursday, Malacañang said it was open to the idea of its officials undergoing drug tests in light of Singson's arrest. Earlier, the Supreme Court had deemed unconstitutional the mandatory nature of illegal drugs testing for candidates running for public office. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV