College of St Benilde institutes random drug tests

MANILA, Philippines - The De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (CSB) on Tuesday said it is conducting random drug testing in light of the recent arrest, and subsequent release, of suspected drug peddler Vince Rendell Yu. In a statement, CSB authorities said they have been in close coordination with law enforcement agencies since the arrest of 22-year-old Yu, last January 5. "We continue to cooperate with the authorities and have been actively undergoing parallel investigations in support of their operations," the statement read. Yu, who was nabbed for allegedly selling cocaine to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent, was released January 8 upon the order of San Juan City assistant prosecutor Myrna Binalay. Binalay said the arresting officer, Julie Tejido, could not show any ID and failed to sign the inquest order. In the statement, CSB authorities said they have also been trying to determine whether any other member of their community is involved in the drug trade. "Since Yu's arrest, we have been trying to determine misguided members of our community who might possibly be involved in similar activities. And while we are currently studying the actions that we, as an institution, may take against such isolated cases, we are also reinforcing our wellness program to better address our students' needs," they said. "These include, among others, continuous implementation of random drug tests, deployment of drug-sniffing dogs and an intensified drug awareness campaign," the statement read. Yu's arrest and subsequent release came amid the "Alabang Boys" controversy, wherein the affluent families of three young drug suspects - Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Tecson - allegedly bribed Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors into ensuring their release. The controversy prompted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to order DOJ officials implicated in the scandal to go on leave. Taking their leave Monday were Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuo, senior state prosecutor Phillip Kimpo, and state prosecutors Misael Ladaga and John Resado. Resado penned the controversial December 2 resolution dismissing the case against the three drug suspects. Earlier during the day, President Arroyo named herself anti-drug czar and ordered random drug testing in public and private schools nationwide. The President said she will turn over the post to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chair Vicente Sotto III and PDEA director-general Dionisio Santiago in due time. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV