Two out of 106 bus and tricycle drivers were found positive for illegal drug use during a surprise drug test conducted in a bus terminal in Sta Rosa, Laguna, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed on Friday, Nov. 4.
The PDEA conducted “OPLAN HARABAS’’ on Nov. 3 to determine who among the public utility vehicle (PUV) personnel were using illegal drugs while plying their route. The test was made in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the local government of Sta. Rosa.
The identities of the two drivers who tested positive for illegal drugs during the screening test were withheld by authorities.
The PDEA stated that the two drivers will be endorsed to their respective LGUs for proper intervention if the confirmatory tests for illegal drugs prove positive as many PUV drivers in the terminal are residents of neighboring towns of the province and far-flung areas.
Barangay Quirino-2-C village security chief Rocky Naquila, who was at the terminal at the time of the surprise drug test, has strongly pushed for similar ‘anti-illegal drug activities’ among tricycle drivers.
“Ako po ay buong nagpapakumbaba sa PDEA na magsagawa ng maraming surprise drug tests para sa mga tricycle drivers na ang ilan ay taga hatid ng shabu, marijuana at iba pang pinagbabawal na gamot (I humbly call on PDEA to conduct more surprise drug tests for tricycle drivers, as some are couriers of shabu, marijuana and other dangerous drugs at the community level),’’ Naquila said.
Naquila, who was at the terminal to fetch some relatives, admitted that funding might be a serious concern if surprise drug tests are conducted more frequently to the tricycle drivers.
“Sana magawan ng paraan ng pamahalaan ang aking proposal (frequent surprise drug tests) para kung hindi man mapuksa ay mabawasan man lang ang paggamit at bentahan ng illegal na droga (I hope that the government finds a way to heed my proposal to lessen the use of dangerous drugs and diminish the illegal drug trade),’’ he stated.
The PDEA said some tricycle drivers ran away when the drug test was made at the terminal.
However, the PDEA said they have no intention to scare the PUV drivers as they only want to promote drug-free workplaces, treatment, and rehabilitation to PUV drivers who will be caught using illegal drugs.