PDEA: 16 PUV drivers test positive for illegal drugs in surprise testing

MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) nationwide have so far tested positive for illegal drugs during a simultaneous mandatory drug test on Friday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that the “Oplan Harabas” is currently being conducted in 49 areas nationwide.

“Ngayon araw na ito, so hindi pa natatapos, meron na tayo kagad na 16 na postive na drivers na gumagamit ng iligal na droga,” Aquino said.

However, Aquino said, the urine samples taken from drivers will still be subjected to a confirmatory test.

If the confirmatory test proves positive, Aquino said, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will  revoke the license of the said drivers temporarily.

“Pag nalaman natin sa siya (driver) ay involved talaga sa illegal drugs, well, tutulungan namin yan na ma-rehabilitate o ma-reform. ‘Di naman natin yan pababayaan yung mga drivers na yan,” he said.

“Temporarily ire-revoke ng LTO yung kanilang driver’s license and eventually after siguro makatapos siya o maka-graduate ng isang reformation or rehabilitation program, pwede na siya sigurong bumalik muli sa dati niyang trabaho,” he added.

“Oplan Harabas,” Aquino said, is being done in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Health (DOH), and LTO.

“Nagpulong-pulong itong mga ahensya na ito para ipatupad namin itong aming Oplan Harabas…Ginagawa namin ito para ma-drug test yung mga drivers ng public utility vehicles ito ay para maging safe ang ating mga commuters to ensure na yung mga drivers natin, mga konduktor, tsaka mga dispatcher ay nasa maayos at di gumagamit ng iligal na droga,” he said.

The PDEA chief also noted that since 2013, anti-drug operatives have arrested  11,609 drivers, conductors and dispatchers for being drug users or pushers.

“Because of this large number of those drug users or pushers are being arrested, kaya natin siguro, panahon na para siguro i-drug test ito,” Aquino said.

He added that PDEA is also considering surprise mandatory drug testing for truck drivers.

“Yung susunod namin, ito yung mga truck drivers naman. Yung mga malalaking truck, specially yung mga nagda-drive sa mga ating North Harbor, South Harbor, yung malalaking container van na mga drivers,” Aquino said.

“Ang mga taong ito bumabiyahe to ng madaling araw minsan siguro dalawa, straight walang tulog dahil kailangan nilang i-deliver yung container van sa isang lugar na malayo so ito, tututukan din natin ito pagdating ng araw itong mga truck drivers,” he said.  /muf