MAYOR EDGARDO Labella on Friday fired a city government employee arrested in a drug buy-bust on Thursday night in Babag village, Lapu-Lapu City.
Robeth Sable delos Santos, 36, of Suba village, and worked as administrative aide III of the Cebu City's Department of General Services (DGS), was caught driving a city-owned vehicle bearing a red plate to deliver the illegal drugs.
Operatives from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office seized from the suspect 105 grams of shabu worth PHP714,000 based on Dangerous Drugs Board value.
Labella, in a radio interview, said he issued a termination order for delos Santos shortly after hearing the latter’s arrest.
The mayor said an employee like delos Santos has no right “to stay any minute longer” in the city government.
“I also instructed the City Attorney’s Office to collaborate with the city prosecutor’s office in Lapu-Lapu to ensure his (delos Santos') conviction. He committed a criminal act and an administrative infraction. For using City Hall vehicle in his malevolent act, it’s an aggravating circumstance,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.
He said he would also ask the head of DGS to explain why delos Santos was able to use a government vehicle in his illegal drug trade.
The city, he said, will also look into the alleged criminal record of the suspect before his employment with the Cebu City Hall.
Reports said delos Santos has a pending drug case in court.
Labella lambasted the suspect for abusing the privilege given by his administration to work as a casual employee as many others have difficulty landing a job amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
He urged the city's Human Resource Development Office to strengthen its screening process, particularly in examining court and National Bureau of Investigation clearances, to assure an applicant has a clean slate of “physical and mental fitness” before being hired.(By John Rey Saavedra)
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