BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
As more than 1,000 government employees in Lila municipality underwent the province’s first-ever hair follicle drug test, Mayor Atty. Arturo “Jed” Piollo II is putting up a benchmark for Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado to follow suit and undergo the same examination to set an example as the “father of the province.”
The groundbreaking event, conducted last Friday, tested local government unit employees, barangay officials, Sangguniang Kabataan leaders, Philippine National Police personnel, and national government agency workers stationed in Lila.
“Ang tuyo nato ani, dili sa paghatag ug kalisdanan sa atong empleyado or opisyales, kun dili padayon sa atoang kampanya nga malimpyo ang atong lugar sa ginadili nga drugas,” Piollo said in an interview.
(Our purpose is not to cause hassle to our employees or officials, this is part of our campaign to rid our town of illegal drugs.)
The mayor, who voluntarily underwent the test and received negative results, noted that leadership must come from the top.
“Atong paningkamotan nga ang tanan na opisyales ug katawhan atong ipakita nga kita limpyo kay aron kita pud sundon sa uban nga kaigsuonan nato,” he said.
(We strive to show that all officials and people are clean so that our fellow citizens will also follow our example.)
With this precedent set at the municipal level, Piollo is somehow calling Governor Aumentado to set transparency and accountability in public service, particularly as the province is plagued with drug-related issues.
The mayor’s surprised drug test essentially implements what House Bill No. 10744 envisions: comprehensive drug testing that includes “elected and appointed officials of the government, government instrumentalities, or government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), whether domestic or overseas, including the President of the Republic of the Philippines.”
The bill’s declaration of policy notes that “public officials shall also be subject to accountability measures such as mandatory random drug testing inclined with the officials’ mandate of promoting the general welfare of the people, especially in terms of mitigating, if not totally eliminating, drug use and abuse in the community.”
The Lila drug test directly mirrors House Bill No. 10744, introduced by Representative Paolo Z. Duterte in the 19th Congress’ 3rd Regular Session, which seeks to mandate comprehensive drug testing for all government officials.
The proposed legislation declares it as “the policy of the state to maintain peace and order, protect one’s life, liberty, and property, and promote the general welfare of the people.” It notes that “the Constitution also reiterates that the state shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service, highlighting the importance of accountability of public officers and employees.”
The bill amends Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) to include mandatory random drug testing for various categories, including “all candidates for public office whether appointed or elected both in the national or local government shall undergo a mandatory drug test.”
According to the proposed amendments, drug testing “shall employ, among others, two (2) testing methods, the screening test which SHALL BE DONE THROUGH HAIR FOLLICLE DRUG TEST will determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and the confirmatory test which SHALL BE DONE THROUGH URINE DRUG TEST will confirm a positive screening test.”
The legislation specifically states that “any official found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively which shall be a ground for suspension or termination from office, subject to certain pertinent laws.”
House Bill No. 10744 establishes that “drug test certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers shall be valid for a one-year period from the date of issue which may be used for other purposes,” providing a standardized framework for testing validity.
The drug test also draws authority from the Local Government Code of 1991, which empowers local government units to promote health and safety within their jurisdictions.
Section 16 of the code specifically authorizes local governments to implement measures for the “general welfare of the people.”
Hair Follicle vs. Traditional Testing
Hair follicle testing is an advancement over traditional urine-based screenings.
According to research reports, hair follicle tests can detect habitual drug use and are resistant to tampering, making them more reliable than conventional methods.
“Kanang urine samples daghan na kaayu ug paagi nga malikayan ang kuan pero kaning hair follicle gyud bisan pag dugay na ka nga wala mo gamit like 6 months before or 1 year makuha gihapon nato nga nag gamit ka ani mahibaw-an pud ug unsang klase sa illegal drugs na imo ge gamit,” Piollo explained.
(Urine samples have many ways to be avoided, but with hair follicle testing, even if you haven’t used drugs for a long time, like 6 months before or 1 year, we can still detect if you used drugs and even know what kind of illegal drugs you used.)
The technology can reveal drug use for up to 90 days or more, depending on hair length, while urine tests typically detect use only for a few days to a week.
Piollo wanted a compassionate approach to positive results, prioritizing rehabilitation over prosecution.
“Dili ta mo file ug kaso against ninyu. Ang atoa lang ani pag pangga ninyung tanan aron kadtong mahibaw-an nato nga naga sulod sa illegal na druga atong mapasulod sa community based rehabilitation program ug kung grabe na gyud ang maong bisyu ato ipa rehab sa accredited rehabilitation center,” he said.
(We will not file cases against you. We just care for all of you so that those we find using illegal drugs will be enrolled in community-based rehabilitation programs, and if the issue is serious, we will have them rehabilitated in accredited rehabilitation centers.)
This approach embodies the philosophy behind Republic Act No. 9165, which stresses treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependents rather than purely punitive measures.
Similar drug tests have been implemented across the Philippines, with varying degrees of success.
In Davao City, then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte implemented strict drug testing protocols for government employees as early as 2013.
The test was later expanded nationwide during his presidency.
More recently, several local government units have adopted hair follicle testing, including select municipalities in Mindanao and Luzon.
However, Lila’s comprehensive approach, covering over 1,000 personnel across multiple agencies, represents one of the most extensive municipal-level implementations to date.
The testing was conducted with assistance from Island Care, a private firm, and the Municipal Health Office.
Results were available within 8-15 minutes using automated testing equipment.
Lila’s test serves as a pilot implementation of House Bill No. 10744’s vision.
“Naka hibaw man ta nga ang usa ka pamilya kung masudlan ug usa ka membro ana mag himo sa bisyu sa illegal na druga guba na gyud ang usa ka pamilya,” he said.
(We know that if one member of a family gets involved in illegal drug use, the entire family is destroyed.)
As Lila sets a precedent for comprehensive drug testing in Bohol, Governor Aumentado is under pressure to do the same at all levels of Capitol.
The governor’s response to this challenge could influence similar drug tests across Bohol’s 47 other municipalities, potentially creating a province-wide standard for drug-free governance.