I AM not a drug addict.
Busay, Cebu City Barangay Captain Amilo Lopez made this clarification after he tested positive for illegal drug use during the surprise drug test conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) last Thursday.
Lopez said he only takes maintenance medicines for hypertension and heart problem, and multivitamins.
“When Dr. Utlang called me (last Friday), I laughed because I thought she was joking. I was really shocked because I’m not a user of that illegal substance,” he told reporters.
Dr. Alice Utlang is executive director of Cosap.
During a news conference at the Busay Barangay Hall, Lopez told reporters he was offended that the information, which was supposed to be confidential, was released even though there is no confirmatory test yet.
Lopez said his family, colleagues and other barangay personnel have been affected by the news.
He pointed out that he is willing to undergo the confirmatory test anytime and anywhere to prove his innocence.
Explanation sought
“They did not just embarrass me, but as well as the barangay,” Lopez said.
He doubts the result of the drug test, suspecting politics was involved.
He said most of the barangay captains who underwent the test were under Team Rama.
Busay Barangay Councilor Eliodoro Sanchez said the barangay council will submit a resolution asking Cosap to explain why it released Lopez’s name before the confirmatory exam.
“What if he tests negative? How can they justify that? The damage has been done. They destroy our barangay and we have been fighting against illegal drugs,” Sanchez said.
Lopez said of the 15 barangays under the jurisdiction of Mabolo Police Station, Busay was chosen to lead the unified barangay force in fighting illegal drugs.
On-site testing
The initiative, he said, supports the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to fight illegal drugs.
Utlang, for her part, said she had no idea how the information was leaked.
She said she only informed Mayor Tomas Osmeña that one barangay captain tested positive but she didn’t mention any name or a barangay.
Cosap conducted the screening of the urine samples at the venue of the drug test after Sto. Niño Barangay Captain Pancho Ramirez insisted the on-site testing.
“They can’t say we altered or exchanged the urine samples because after submission, we conducted the screening and (it) turned out that he (Lopez) tested positive,” Utlang said.
She advised Lopez to take the confirmatory test tomorrow, and declare all his maintenance medications.
Sixty barangay captains underwent the surprise drug test during the third quarterly assembly of all barangay captains held at the White Gold House last Thursday.
