House OKs drug testing for suspects, prisoners

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on dangerous drugs approved yesterday a bill that would require drug testing among convicts, parolees, probationers and arrested suspects.

The panel, chaired by Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr., endorsed House Bill 2777 authored by Rep. Samuel Pagdilao of party-list group ACT-CIS (Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support).

The measure requires the police to subject all prisoners, parolees and probationers to drug testing every six months to ensure that they are free from illegal drugs.

It also authorizes law enforcers to require an arrested person suspected of using illegal drugs to undergo drug testing.

The committee will submit a report to the House together with its endorsement of the bill.

Pagdilao, a former police officer, said the measure seeks to prevent those who have been convicted of various offenses and drug suspects from having access to illegal drugs.

“Among the many problems that threaten society is drug addiction. It is considered one of the evils of society that involves not only peace and order but also erodes the physical and moral well-being of the people,” he said.

“Despite efforts of law enforcement agencies to carry out the law, the drug problem seems to escalate. It is common knowledge that many criminals commit offenses while under the influence of drugs or to raise money to buy drugs,” he added.

The lawmaker noted that the government is doing all it can to protect the people from the drug menace.

“But there is a need for a rigid approach to cut down the tie-up between drugs and crimes. The task of preventing drug abuse remains a challenge, particularly if we read reports of drug use among prisoners or convicts who were previously released on probation,” he said.

Pagdilao pointed out that whenever prison authorities inspect cells, it is not uncommon for them to find illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, which show that drugs are smuggled in jails through family members, visitors and even prison personnel.

“It is therefore important that inmates are monitored through regular random drug testing. It must start from the time of incarceration and in some instances, even after their release and integration into the community,” he said.

In the case of an arrested drug user, the Pagdilao bill gives the arresting officer the discretion to subject him or her to a drug test if the officer “has probable cause to believe that the individual is under the influence of dangerous drugs or other similar substances.” 

The measure mandates that the Department of Health or its accredited hospitals and laboratories do the required drug tests.