South Luzon drivers, conductors undergo surprise drug tests

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday morning conducted on-the-spot drug tests to bus drivers, conductors and employees plying the route of Southern Tagalog and Manila—to determine who are drug dependents. This was made after Homer Mercado, president of the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association personally requested PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago in his meeting early this month to conduct a “surprise” drug testing.

Santiago suspects that drivers who are involved in the freak accidents along major thoroughfares are under the influence of prohibited drugs like shabu.

“Most of them are admitting this to their fellow employees of bus companies saying that they are only forced to do it to make them awake while driving specially during night time.” Santiago said.

But the PDEA chief warned that if anyone makes this a habit, they would find themselves selling their personal belongings just to buy shabu, worst, they would be forced to steal—as they become addicted to the illegal substance.

It was also the first time the authorities conducted an unannounced urine test on bus drivers in four Laguna municipalities, Santa Cruz and Biñan City, and in Caloocan in Manila, where the bus terminals are mostly located.

It can be recalled that only last month, a bus heading for Manila from Tacloban City, Leyte, fell into a creek while traveling along the Maharlika Highway in Pagbilao, Quezon. Five people were pronounced dead while 32 others were injured.

Also in the same month, 42 passengers were killed when a bus fell off a ravine in Benguet province. PDEA’s claimed in their report that the dispatcher of the bus company was on their watchlist of suspected drug dealers.

The 500 drivers and conductors who underwent the on-the-spot drug tests in their garage were employees of HM, Megatrans and Greenstar bus companies—known as the big three bus companies plying the route of Southern Luzon to Manila.

Those who will be found positive for using prohibited drugs may be recommended for rehabilitation but PDEA reminded that the existing laws did not provide for an automatic filing of charges against the user.

The only drastic move the company can do against drug dependent employees is to terminate them from office but cannot sue them for being a user. Drug depen-dents often considered as victims and needs rehabilitation. –SAMMY MARTIN, Manila Times