7 Makati City jeepney drivers test positive for illegal drugs

Members of Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Madac and Makati police inspected jeepneys in Makati after a fatal accident last week. (Photo courtesy of Makati City police)

MANILA, Philippines — Seven Makati City jeepney drivers tested positive for drugs, days after a jeepney driven by another drugged driver rammed and killed a 14-year-old student and injured several others in Barangay Poblacion.

READ: 14-year-old student dies, 7 others hurt as jeepney hits them in Makati
In a text message to reporters on Wednesday, Makati City police chief Col. Rogelio Simon said the result of the drug tests on 58 jeepney drivers were released by the  Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Madac).

Simon said the seven jeepney drivers who tested positive for drugs will be detained will face charges for violation of Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The screening of jeepneys started on Tuesday and was conducted by personnel of Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Madac, and Makati City police.

Last week, jeepney driver Crizalde Tamparong was driving a public utility jeepney in Barangay Poblacion when he rammed a group of students who were crossing a pedestrian lane.

Tamparong claimed that he lost his brakes when he hit the students.

Police investigators also discovered that Tamparong tested positive for shabu and did not have a  valid driver’s license.

READ: Jeepney driver who ran over students has no license, tested positive for drugs

GSG