Two elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in Bohol have tested positive for illegal drugs use, a Provincial Board (PB) member said.

According to SK provincial federated president and ex-officio PB Member Christian Bolos III, the two alleged illegal drug users are SK chairpersons from Valencia and Sevilla.

The two, along with 202 other SK chairpersons, were subjected to surprise drug testing last Saturday.

Bolos said that the SK chairpersons were tested at the Center for Drug Education and Counseling inside the Bohol Police Provincial Office headquarters in Camp Francisco Dagohoy, Tagbilaran City during the launching of the “Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo” program.

Bolos however did not identify the two persons as they were both set for confirmatory testing.

If again proven to be positive for drug use through the confirmatory test, the two SK members will be subjected to disciplinary action based on a memorandum circular of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Section 3 of Article 124 or the Grounds for Disciplinary Action of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Local Government Code also states that elective officials “may be censured, reprimanded, suspended, or removed from office after due notice and hearing” on the following grounds: “dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence o dereliction of duty.”

According to Bolos, the surprise drug testing was conducted to maintain the SK’s image as role model to the youth and as support to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

It was the first time that an SK official tested positive for drug use since new Barangay and SK officials started office in June last year. (R. Tutas)