ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA – Opposition Councilor and Angeles City Mayoralty Aspirant Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. and his whole line up on April 22, 2019 tested negative on illegal drugs, following the voluntary drug test conducted at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Pampanga Laboratory located in Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Lazatin underwent the voluntary drug testing in line with the advisory from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) imploring candidates in the upcoming May 13 Elections to subject themselves to voluntary drug testing.
According to Lazatin, even though the rule of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on mandatory drug testing has changed and candidates are no longer required to undergo drug testing, he has kept to it since he first ran for office in 2013 as he sees nothing wrong with it.
Lazatin had also undergone an earlier voluntary drug test last November 2018 and tested negative.
Earlier this month, Lazatin had revealed his plans to make Angeles City a ‘drug-cleared’ city, in line with his Six-Point Agenda.
Lazatin said that under his administration, the city government’s confidential fund will be directed towards funding programs related to the eradication of drug use in the city.
Lazatin also added that he will strengthen the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) throughout the city’s 33 barangays, in accordance with the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017, which mandates strengthening the implementation of barangay drug-clearing programs.
Lazatin’s administration will also spearhead the creation of Balay Silangan Reformation Center, a community-based reformation center for illegal drug offenders, in partnership with the PDEA.
In addition, Lazatin said that the city government will establish a partnership with the Magalang Rehabilitation Center and fund the rehabilitation of former drug users. Following their successful rehabilitation, the city will provide alternative livelihood trainings and opportunities to former drug users.
Lazatin added that his administration will focus on implementing a unified drug advocacy program for the youth, which involves mobilizing officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to be anti-drug advocates for the youth. ###