No more mandatory drug testing for drivers license

[necrotic freak]

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Sotto: Anti-drunk law repeals mandatory LTO drug test

Published : Thursday, June 20, 2013 00:00 Article Views : 494
Written by : Bernadette Tamayo



THE Land Transportation Office “can no longer insist” on mandatory drug testing of those applying for or renewing driver’s licenses after President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III stressed this point after LTO chief Virginia Torres said they will continue to require drivers to undergo drug testing to ensure that no drug-addicted individual gets or renews his license to operate a motor vehicle and ply the streets as required by RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“Ang gusto ko, dapat ipa-drug test those involved in accidents. ’Yun na lang. Hindi ‘yung bago ka kukuha ng license magpapa-drug test ka,”Sotto said.

“I'm very glad that the President signed into law the Anti-Drug and Alcohol Act because that removes the P300-P400 drug testing in securing a license. Wala na ’yun. Sabi ng LTO ipipilit daw nila. Anong ipipilit nila? Wala na sa batas, inalis na.

“Nu’ng ipinasa namin ‘yung batas nandiyan ‘yan. Ipinasok ni (then Sen. Robert) Barbers ‘yan. I objected to it. I did not want it because I did not see any possibility that it will help. Ipapa-drug test mo lahat ng kukuha ng lisensiya, eh, milyon every year (ang collection). Pagkakakitaan lang ‘yan. I objected to it. The reason is aside from the fact na gastos lang ‘yan,” Sotto explained.

The senator also noted that a positive drug test is not conclusive.

“It doesn't mean you’re an addict. Uminom ka lang ng cough and cold medicine ngayon, after two days kapag nagpa-drug test ka, magpa-positive ka sa amphetamine. And that is a precursor of shabu. Sasabihin nag-positive ka (sa shabu), kaya hindi conclusive. So when you test positive for a drug test, you must undertake a confirmatory test para makasuhan ka na ikaw ay drug addict,” he added.

“Noong 2008, naging Dangerous Drugs Board chairman ako at nagtawag ako ng meeting with the Department of Health. Itinanong ko ano ang provisions ng Dangerous Drugs Act na hindi effective. Nag-review ako at nakita ko na ang number one: drug testing. Bakit? Imagine, every year ilang million ang nagre-renew ng license? So, ang total ng ilang milyon every year na nagda-drug test, ang nag-positive ay 0.06 lang. Hindi ba katarantaduhan ‘yan?” he said.

“Ang sabi ko pagbalik ko sa Senado (ng) 2010, ‘yan ang unang-una kong aamyendahan. Ang daming nagla-lobby, galit na galit sa akin ang mga (drug) laboratory testing. Tinitira pa ako sa radyo. Grabe. Galit na galit sa akin. Nagla-lobby sa ilang congressmen, senador, (kaya) natagalan ‘yan eh. Kaya inabot ng 2013 ‘yan.

Ang ginawa namin ni (Sen.) Greg (Honasan), para hindi mabigla, m(in)erge namin sa Anti-Drug and Anti-Alcohol Driving law,” Sotto said.


Sotto: Anti-drunk law repeals mandatory LTO drug test | National

[farmboy]

Sotto has a point here..

[sammedriano]

Nice! Iwas gastos!

[trinalla]

correct kay mostly drivers especially kato mga drug users, mo inom daan ug gatas before magpa drug test......

[666satan]

mao ni sakto nga senador...pakita jd dayon...

[mybuuz]

naa pud diay point usahay si Sen Sotto. grabe na pud kaayo ug pangkorakot ning mga clinics and LTO.

[goodasdead]

sakto ni si sotto pangwarta rani ilaha daghan addict makakuha ghapon og license kay mabayran man lang gihapon, mao rapud ni sa mvis inig renew na sa sakyanan kung dili ka makuha mo add on lang ka 500 ok na useless ghapon kaayo,

[windsong]

ok man diay c tito sotto wahahaa

[saidox]

nndot ni atleast man lang ma lessen pd ang bayad pa renew ug ang kahasol kay taas au linya pa drug test..

[<SMILE>]

we should be extra careful now in the streets
and in commuting.