More equipment needed to catch drunk, drugged drivers--solon
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There is a need to procure an ample supply of sobriety and drug test kits to effectively enforce Republic Act (RA) No.10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said in a statement Wednesday, July 12. “The reason the law was enacted was to ensure that drunk and drugged drivers do not get to harm others when they take the wheel," Yamsuan said. According to the neophyte congressman, there have been cases reported wherein drivers who were obviously drunk were let go instead of being charged outright for violating the anti-drunk and drugged driving law simply because there were no testing equipment available for the apprehending officers to use. "What we need is express action when it comes to apprehending them. Our law enforcers need to have the proper equipment necessary to do their job right and quickly get these irresponsible drivers off the streets,” stressed Yamsuan. Incidentally, budget season is right around at the corner in the House of Representatives, with the second regular session slated to begin on July 24. Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group, Yamsuan said the number of road accidents caused by drunk drivers rose to 59 incidents or by at least 90 percent in November 2022 compared to 31 recorded in the previous month of the same year. This is even higher by 210 percent compared to the19 road crashes attributed to drunk driving in September 2022. Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), has also filed in the current 19th Congress House Bill (HB) No.7968, which seeks to amend RA No.10586 to make it mandatory for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to deputize selected officers of the PNP, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government (LGU)s in enforcing this law’s provisions. “One life lost to drunk or drugged driving is one too many. The number of deaths from drunk or drugged driving-related accidents could have been minimized, if not totally prevented, had we more officers on the streets to conduct roadside operations. especially during the holidays when cases of driving under the influence significantly increase,” he said. He said his measure willl help ensure road safety and help educate drivers on the perils of drinking under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte co-authored HB No. 7968.