Three employees of the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital and a regular employee of the City Treasurer’s Office were found positive in separate surprise drug tests.

The surprise drug test was conducted during the general assembly of doctors, nurses, institutional workers, and marshals of the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital on September 16, 2025.

The random drug tests were carried out in two phases as there is a total of 290 employees, but with different work shifts.

Three in the first batch of 156 workers were found positive in the initial screening.

In addition, one male regular employee of 86 workers of the City Treasurer’s Office was also found positive for use of illegal drugs.

CLOSAP is awaiting results of the confirmatory tests.

Atty. Danilo Almendras, Lapu-Lapu City administrator, pointed out that in the case of a regular employee who tested positive of illegal drug use, he will undergo due process and rehabilitation, unlike job order (JO) workers who face urgent dismissal as they do not have security of tenure.

The surprise drug tests have been carried out by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP), headed by Garry Lao, to ensure that City Hall employees are cleared from illegal drug use.