MikeLigalig.com

MANILA, Philippines - There will be no discrimination between "rich" and "poor" schools in the random drug tests ordered by President Arroyo, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) said.

Ched chairman Emmanuel Angeles said that while exclusive schools for the rich are perceived as the more likely targets of drug rings, these syndicates also invade schools for the "masses."

"Maaring ganoon, pero maski paaralan sa masa ini-invade ng drug pushers (We may do that but we must remember drug rings have invaded even schools for the masses)," was Angeles’ response in an interview on dzXL radio when asked if they will conduct tests in exclusive schools first.

He said he expects officials of colleges and universities, which the CHED supervises, to have their own mechanisms for drug testing ready.

These schools should also have related services such as counseling and drug education, he added.

"Ang pamantasan na ang bahala niyan, meron silang school physicians, merong drug education program at director of student affairs. Lahat yan inaasikaso ng kolehiyo at pamantasan (Colleges and universities have their own physicians, drug education programs and directors of student affairs. All those we expect colleges and universities to have)," he said.

President Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the random drug tests in schools in the wake of the "Alabang Boys" drug scandal, involving alleged bribery for the release of three boys from rich families arrested in an anti-drug operation.

Arroyo also named herself anti-drug czar following continued bickering between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice. - GMANews.TV

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