JONVIC REIMBURSES ISABELA TOWN VICE MAYOR’S DRUG TEST FEE: ETO NA. HAPPY?

DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday reimbursed the P28,011 cost of the drug test of Reina Mercedes, Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio.

“Eto na. Happy?” Remulla wrote in the caption of what appeared to be a digital receipt for an online fund transfer.

The refund was confirmed by Remulla on Thursday.

The DILG chief attached a screenshot of the proof of payment on Respicio’s online post who was asking for a reimbursement for the drug test.

In the Facebook post, Respicio uploaded a QR code for a P28,011 payment to his GCash account as he urged Remulla to reimburse the amount for his drug test.

“Jonvic, ito QR code. Pa-GCash P28,011. Reimbursement for drug test,” the vice mayor’s post stated.

Remulla on Wednesday asked Respicio to undergo a drug test following a shouting match with barangay officials on October 5 at the Sangguniang Bayan office that went viral online.

The vice mayor of Reina Mercedes immediately responded to Remulla’s call and took a drug test at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

The results showed that Respicio was negative for methamphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cocaine, ecstasy, benzodiazepines, opiates, propoxyphene, and tricyclic antidepressants

Respicio uploaded an invoice showing that the drug test cost around P28,000 and sought a refund.

Meanwhile, Remulla on Thursday said the “shouting match” issue is now on the table of Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III.

The DILG chief said the matter should be addressed through the proper processes at the provincial level.