Senators laud LTO's decision to stop drug tests

MANILA, Philippines - Senators on Friday welcomed the decision of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to finally stop the conduct of mandatory drug tests for drivers, in view of the repeal of the provision under the new Anti-Drunk and Anti-Drugged Driving Law.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Senator-elect Sonny Angara were pleased that LTO chief Assistant Sec. Virginia Torres listened to public clamor for the agency to stop the conduct of drug tests even before the creation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

“I’m glad the LTO has seen the light. It unburdens many of our countrymen from a mandate that does not serve its purpose,”  said Sotto, who first pointed out that the new law has repealed the provision under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or RA 9165.

Sotto cited a provision under the new law that expressed the repeal of the provision under RA 9165.

For his part, Angara lauded Torres for “respecting the new law,” and for not waiting for the drafting of the IRR, which "may have taken a long time."

The LTO stopped the drug tests after Malacañang slammed the status quo order issued by Torres regarding the matter.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan pointed out on Thursday that the LTO and other agencies were supportive and knowledgeable of the repeal of the mandatory drug testing for drivers as envisioned then under new law.

Honasan said Health Assistant Sec. Elmer Punzalan; Dr. Brenda Bascos, head of the LTO Medical Unit; then Police Superintendent Francisco Uyami of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force and  Chief Superintendent Victorio Caragan supported the expressed repeal on the drug testing provision under Republic Act 9165 during the public hearings of the Senate.

The officials were the resource persons invited by the Senate during the deliberations of  Senate Bill 45, filed by Sen. Sotto.  This eventually paved way for the passage of RA 10586 or the new DUI law.

“Today, section 36 (a) of RA 9165 no longer exists.  The repeal (of the provision) is an expressed repeal. No interpretation is necessary,” said Honasan, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs during the 15th Congress.