SAN Juan Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito-Estrada, who heads the anti-drug abuse council of her city, has vowed to eliminate illegal drugs in the city by 2017.
“I want to make San Juan City drug-free by November next year,” Estrada told reporters recently.
Her commitment coincided with news the city, headed by Mayor Guia G. Gomez, had been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance and, six days later, received an “Excellent” rating from the Civil Service Commission as contained in its Anti-Red Tape Act Report Card.
The vice mayor has assured illegal drug users they will be protected by the police and the city’s anti-drug abuse council.
“I told them not to be afraid anymore because the police will protect them 110 percent,” she added.
The cleansing is also to ensure that no elected official is hooked on illegal drugs, she added.
The local government unit earlier conducted a mandatory drug tests on elected officials and appointed personnel.
Estrada asked drug surrenderers to convince their fellow drugs users to participate in the rehabilitation program of the city’s 21 barangays.
“They [drug dependents] will be assured of jobs once they tested negative of drugs,” Estrada said.
She noted many of those who surrendered refused to undergo rehabilitation because they were afraid they might be killed.