Another city worker nabbed over illicit drugs

• Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1746829/Cagayan-De-Oro/Local-News/Another-city-worker-nabbed-over-illicit-drugs
• Saturday, June 9, 2018

By PAMELA JAY F. ORIAS

ANOTHER Cagayan de Oro City employee was arrested by the police's City Drug Enforcement Unit in Barangay Balulang over the weekend.

The arrest made city officials frowned as some workers in recent past were also apprehended for dealing with illegal drugs.

The suspect identified as Benjie Anghab Lo-od, 38, and a resident of Green Heights, barangay Balulang, is a job order employee at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD).

Lo-od belongs to the reach-out team of CSWD's rescue operations, among others.

Police said Lo-od is not even under the watchlist of the drug enforcement agency and police, though he once submitted himself to the Oplan Tokhang that “qualified” him as a high-value target.

Seized from his possession was a piece of alleged methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu,” with an estimated street value of P500.

City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a, who is also heading the CSWD, urged all city hall employees involved in illicit drug activities to respond to the call and submit themselves to authorities.

Once they surrender, Sabuga-a assured the city will not recommend for the filing of administrative cases against them and, instead, facilitates to get them into sustainable rehabilitation program.

Sabuga-a said Lo-od won't receive his salary pending the court decision apart from facing an administrative case before the City Legal Office.

If he wants to be reinstated, Lo-od will have to coordinate with the human resource office and needs to be enrolled at the Oro Welness Development Center, a program of the city government for recovering drug dependents.

Sabuga-a said Lo-od was employed in 2015, as a replacement for her wife who had to stop working after suffering from stroke.

The City Government takes Lo-od in initially as a “houseparent” at the Mother Theresa Center for street children.

He was eventually reassigned to the reach out team in 2017 after the CSWD personnel noticed his behavioral change.

In April this year, Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) personnel Nelson Remotigue and Jeofrey Sierra, a Metro Aide 1 of the City Public Services Office were among those arrested for same offense.