Sotto asks PNP: Why not subject SUV owner to a comprehensive drug test?

Outgoing Senate President Vicente C. Sotto today June 16 asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to subject the owner of a sports vehicle that ran over a security guard to a comprehensive five-way drug test.

‘’Pls tell the PNP and the lawyer of the Hit and Run Run Over driver they must follow RA (Republic Act) 10586, the Anti- Drunk and Drugged Driving Law!,’’ Sotto said in his Viber account sent to Senate reporters.

Accompanied by his parents and a lawyer, Jose Antonio ‘’Anton’’ San Vicente surrendered to PNP Officer-in-Charge Lt. General Vicente Danao Jr. yesterday.

The family of San Vicente reportedly decided to turn him in after Danao issued a warning over Anton’s refusal to surrender and publicly stated that the reason why he (San Vicente) remained at large is that he could be taking drugs.

‘’Kung nagnakaw ng bayabaş ang mahirap kulong agad (if a thief of a guava is poor, he is immediately put behind bars). What’s happening to our country Mr. President?,’’ Sotto said.

The Duterte administration is being criticized for being hard in its dangerous drugs campaign.

Sotto noted that the PNP even held a press conference showing a ranking PNP official seated at a table and the suspect, Jose Antonio San Vicente; his parents; and his lawyer, in an adjacent table.

He strongly suggested that San Vicente should undergo a comprehensive five-way test of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), ‘’not the regular drug test.’’

Sotto was chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) during the Arroyo presidency.

Republic Act 10586 is ‘’An Act Penalizing Persons Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Dangerous Drugs, and Similar Substances, and for other purposes" is also known as the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013."

Section 7 of RA 10586 states the following: Mandatory Alcohol and Chemical Testing of Drivers Involved in Motor Vehicular Accidents. – A driver of a motor vehicle involved in a vehicular accident resulting in the loss of human life or physical injuries shall be subjected to chemical tests, including a drug screening test and, if necessary, a drug confirmatory test as mandated under Republic Act No. 9165, to determine the presence and/or concentration of alcohol, dangerous drugs and/or similar substances in the bloodstream or body.

Section 8 of RA 10586 also states: ‘’Refusal to Subject Oneself to Mandatory Tests. – A driver of a motor vehicle who refuses to undergo the mandatory field sobriety and drug tests under Sections 6, 7 and 15 of this Act shall be penalized by the confiscation and automatic revocation of his or her driver’s license, in addition to other penalties provided herein and/or other pertinent laws.’’

The PNP, on Wednesday, admitted having “no proof” that Jose Antonio San Vicente, owner of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) that ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong, was driving the car during the incident.

However, the hit-and-run suspect has to show proof that he wasn’t the one driving the car that ran over Christian Joseph Floralde, who was directing traffic at the intersection of Julia Vargas Avenue and St. Francis Street last June 5.

“We have no proof that Mr. San Vicente was the one driving the car, but we also have this registered owner rule,” PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Rundown.

Fajardo was referring to a legal principle of holding accountable the “registered owner of a vehicle whose operation causes injury to another.”

She also said that while there is a presumption that San Vicente was driving the SUV during the incident, it may be disproved “if the registered owner can present evidence that the vehicle involved in the case has been transferred to another person or there is someone driving other than him.”