House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to make mandatory drug testing among convicts, parolees and probationers hurdled a committee in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
House Bill 2777, which seeks to amend Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, was approved by the dangerous drugs committee.
The bill specifically wants random drug testing to prisoners, parolees and probationers every six months “to ensure that they are free from the use of dangerous drugs.”
The bill also wants the drug testing for apprehended individuals under influence of drugs.
“While it is true that inmates inside the correctional institutions have restricted movement, it is possible that drugs are smuggled in through visitors, friends and families of inmates or by corrupt officials,” the bill’s author ACT-CIS party-list Samuel Pagdilao said in the explanatory note.
“It is therefore important that inmates are monitored through regular drug testing. It must start from the time of incarceration and in some instances, even after their release and integration to the community,” Pagdilao added.