In W. Visayas: 80-90% of cabbies are into illegal drugs-RSOG

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — By rough estimate, the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) said that about 80-90 percent of taxi drivers were or are still using illegal drugs.

Superintendent Robert Rodriguez, RSOG chief and concurrent head of the Police Regional Intelligence Division (RID), clarified that the estimates were based on reports from his people on the ground, particularly the civilian assets. “We have no scientific basis for that estimate but we just project that majority of taxi drivers have used or are using illegal drugs,” he said.

Besides cabbies, there were reports that bus drivers, especially those who are into long travel, are also using illegal drugs to keep them awake during their trip, he said.

The point here is not on how many taxi drivers are using illegal drugs, but that this reality should be a wake-up call for operators or hired agencies to be cautious in employing drivers. “I think it’s part of their social obligation to make sure that they are employing a drug-free driver,” Rodriguez said.

On top of the drug testing conducted when getting or renewing a driver’s license, operators could also conduct random testing, particularly to those who were suspected to be using illegal drugs.

Last week, joint operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs (RAID)/RSOG and the City Police Station 5 arrested two cabbies in a buy-bust operation at the car park of a mall in Mandurriao district of this city, Rodriguez added.