BACOLOD CITY – The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has permanently revoked the driver’s licenses of six public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers here who tested positive for shabu during a surprise drug test last month.
LTO-NIR officer-in-charge director Jeck Conlu said they imposed a lifetime ban on two traditional jeepney drivers and four modern bus drivers after they tested positive in a confirmatory test.
They tested positive during the “Oplan: Harabas” random drug testing conducted at the Bacolod North Terminal on Oct. 29 where 100 PUV drivers and operators were screened in line with the Department of Transportation “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2025” program that focuses on ensuring passenger safety during high-traffic travel seasons.
Their drivers’ licenses were confiscated and suspended.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 (Western Visayas) verified the findings through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Conlu reiterated that any PUV driver caught using illegal drugs will be permanently banned from acquiring a driver’s license.
He said that LTO-NIR is committed to maintaining road safety by ensuring all PUV drivers are drug-free and capable of transporting passengers.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez and LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao fully backed the decision.