The Philippine government’s anti-drug crackdown shows no signs of stopping and today, they went after drivers of public utility vehicles.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) today conducted mandatory and surprise drug tests for all drivers of public transport vehicles in different places all over the country.
The PDEA conducted the drug tests as part of their program called Oplan Harabas, Drug Test Muna Bago Pasada, reported ABS-CBN News. That literally translates to “Oplan Driving Recklessly, Get a Drug Test First Before You Drive.”
In an interview with The Philippine Daily Inquirer, PDEA’s Director General Aaron Aquino said that the drug tests were conducted in 49 areas nationwide and that so far, 16 drivers have tested positive already.
However, he said that their urine samples will undergo another round of testing to confirm the initial findings. If they test positive again, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will revoke the drivers’ licenses temporarily.
Oh noes.
The PDEA chief didn’t specify where these 16 drivers are from or the type of public transport vehicles they drive.
Aquino said they are subjecting the public transport drivers to these tests because they want to protect their passengers.
He told ABS-CBN News in Filipino: “This is for the safety of the passengers. They shouldn’t be scared because this is confidential. We will help them (drivers) rehabilitate themselves so that they can go back to their jobs.”
According to Aquino himself, the agency has arrested 11,609 drivers, conductors, and dispatchers since 2013. Some of them were drug dealers while others were just users.
“They (drivers) think that if they use illegal drugs they can drive continuously without sleep. The side effect is, they might get into accidents,” he added.
The most popular drug in the Philippines, shabu (meth), causes insomnia when used consistently. Many believe that numerous drivers of public transport vehicles use it so they can hit the roads round-the-clock.
A report from GMA News said one of the areas where the PDEA conducted the drug tests today was at the SM Mall of Asia terminal in Pasay City. Of the 30 tricycle and jeepney drivers who have tested so far, none have tested positive.
After this program, the PDEA is planning to conduct tests for truck drivers. Aquino told Inquirer: “Some of them drive until dawn, sometimes they drive for two days straight, they don’t sleep because they have to deliver their container vans to far away places. We will focus on truck drivers one day.”
