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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider 9 PUV drivers test positive for drugs

9 PUV drivers test positive for drugs

Published Mar 30, 2026 10:21 pm
A SURPISE drug test is conducted on drivers and conductors at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City on Monday, March 30. (LTO-7)
A SURPISE drug test is conducted on drivers and conductors at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City on Monday, March 30. (LTO-7)
CEBU CITY – Nine Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers tested positive for illegal drug use in surprise drug tests in two major terminals here on Monday, March 30.
A total of 412 PUV drivers and conductors at the South Bus Terminal and North Bus Terminal underwent random drug tests, said Leia Alcantara, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA-7).
These tests were part of “Oplan Harabas: Project Huli-Week,” a campaign meant to ensure the safety of the riding public in Central Visayas this Holy Week, Alcantara said.
Alcantara disclosed that four taxi drivers and five bus drivers tested positive results for illegal drug use.
Their urine samples will be subjected to confirmatory testing. Drivers who yielded positive screening results were endorsed to their local government units for proper assessment, intervention, and monitoring should the confirmatory test also turn out positive.
The Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7) will process the revocation of the driver’s licenses of those who flunked the test should the confirmatory test confirm the initial results.
PDEA-7 Regional Director Joel Plaza said it is important that PUV drivers must not be into illegal drugs to ensure the safety of commuters.
Plaza also did not agree with the notion that some drivers are using illegal drugs just to stay awake.
“What we want to emphasize is that drugs are harmful. These should stop especially when they provide services to the people that involve safety,” said Plaza.
Lawyer Wendel Dinglasan, chief of LTO-7, said the agency will not give second chances to PUV drivers and conductors found to be drug users.
“If tested positive, that’s automatic revocation without prejudice to other penalties and punishment from the police and courts,” said Dinglasan.

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