The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the dismissal of three Court of Appeals (CA) employees who were found positive for illegal drugs use.
Terminated were Garry U. Caliwan, Edmundo T. Malit, and Frederick C. Mauricio who were reportedly found positive for shabu during a random drug test conducted by the CA.
The CA’s findings were confirmed by Labtox Analytical Laboratory, Inc., a laboratory facility accredited by the Department of Health and the Dangerous Drugs Board.
The SC said the administrative liabilities of Caliwan, Malit, and Mauricio for the use of illegal drugs or substances have been sufficiently proven not only by the positive results of the random drug test but also by their own admissions.
In 2023, the SC issued guidelines for implementation of a drug-free policy in the Philippine judiciary.
Under the guidelines, drug testing is a mandatory pre-employment requirement in the judiciary. Court employees are also mandated to undergo random drug testing during their employment.
Employees found positive for dangerous drug use will be charged administratively, and the findings will be ground for suspension or termination, subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law and SC circulars.
According to the high court, the guidelines apply to all judiciary members, officials or personnel, regardless of status of appointment, of the SC, the CA, the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the first- and second-level courts under the direct supervision of the Office of the Court Administrator.
Also covered by the rules are personnel in the Judicial and Bar Council, the Judiciary Integrity Board, the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Office of the Judiciary
Marshals, the Mandatory Continuing Legal Office, and all other offices under the supervision of the SC.