LTO: 5 PUV drivers test positive for drugs

Five public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers tested positive for drugs on Saturday following a random drug testing conducted by Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Jose Arturo Tugade in Parañaque City and Quezon City. Out of more than 140 drivers and conductors at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, five tested positive for drugs and will undergo confirmatory tests, the LTO said in a statement. The drivers and conductors underwent a breathalyzer test and a random drug test as part of LTO’s road safety monitoring in preparation for the Holy Week break. Their driver’s licenses were confiscated for violating Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2015. During the inspection, one of the buses in PITX was prohibited from traveling due to its worn-out tires and faulty brake lines. Meanwhile, in anticipation of the exodus of passengers during the Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it would allow provincial buses to pass along Edsa.

—Jane Bautista