Supreme Court: No mandatory drug tests for judges, staff

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday refuted claims that its Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) is mandating judges and court employees to undergo drug testing.

"The OCA Circular issued by the Court Administrator just mandated the annual physical examinations of judges and court personnel on or before Oct. 15, 2024," SC spokesperson lawyer Camille Ting said in a press conference.

Ting said the annual physical examination does not require a mandatory drug test, unlike what reports circulating on social media are saying.

NOT TRUE. The Supreme Court Office of the Court Administrator did not order mandatory drug testing for judges and employees of the Judiciary.

Statement from Atty. Camille Ting, Supreme Court spokesperson:

The OCA issued OCA Circular No. 246-2024 enjoining all judges and court… pic.twitter.com/lCMxNESsCP

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) August 14, 2024

Under the Judiciary Health Plan and their contract with their health service provider, Ting said random drug tests will be conducted, but this has yet to be implemented.

"What we really require is just a basic annual physical examination, which just consists of blood tests, urinalysis, all because the Supreme Court would like to make sure that their judges and court personnel are healthy," Ting explained.

In a statement on Twitter, Ting clarified that OCA Circular 246-2024 is "enjoining all judges and court personnel of first and second level courts to undergo the physical exam."

First-level courts refer to metropolitan, municipal, and municipal circuit trial courts, while second-level courts refer to regional trial courts.

"It did not require a mandatory drug test," Ting said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News