The Department of Health Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) said in a statement yesterday that the DOH-MMCHD employee who was arrested during an anti-illegal drug operation in a Mandaluyong City condominium had already been dismissed from service before the incident even happened.
The doctor, identified as Vanjoe R. De Guzman, was arrested during the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA)’s buy-bust operation on Wednesday morning. He allegedly had a business transaction with an undercover cop who pretended to be a drug buyer, ABS-CBN News reported.
Six other suspects inside De Guzman’s condo unit were also arrested.
The DOH-MMCHD said that De Guzman was a regular employee since February 2015 but had gone AWOL (Absence Without Leave) since Nov. 26 last year.
“Despite written directives to report immediately to the office, Dr. De Guzman has failed to comply,” the statement said. “This has prompted for DOH-MMCHD to issue an Order of Separation and commence disciplinary proceedings, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission, for his eventual dismissal from the service.”
The statement added that all DOH-MMCHD employees are subjected to an annual mandatory random drug testing regardless of employment status.
CNN Philippines reported that other suspects nabbed in the operation were identified as Francis Fajardo, a concert organizer; junior college varsity player Keanu Andrea Flores; Mohammad Abdullah Duga; Michael Melegrito Tan; Mohammad Arafa Morsy; and Mark Adrianne Reyes Echauz.
Authorities said that De Guzman’s condo unit was being used as a drug den, GMA News reported. They also found a cellphone video from one of the suspects which showed De Guzman injecting the melted shabu (meth) to his body, the report added.
Authorities also alleged that the suspects regularly conduct pot sessions inside the condo unit, multiple reports state. They would allegedly engage in drug-fueled orgies afterward and film it.
De Guzman denied being a drug pusher but admitted to being a drug user, the GMA News report added. PDEA, however, said they found text messages on the doctor’s cellphone about drug transactions.
Seized from the suspects were more than 50 grams of shabu and suspected liquid ecstasy estimated to be worth PHP300,000 (US$5,793.49).
The suspects are facing charges in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
