LTO revokes licenses of bus drivers, conductors who tested positive for drugs

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered the immediate revocation of the driver’s licenses of three bus drivers and two conductors who tested positive for illegal drugs in a random drug test conducted at a bus terminal in Pasay City.

In a statement, the LTO said 64 drivers and conductors underwent initial drug screening, of which five tested positive for narcotics.

Among those who tested positive was the bus driver who alleged used his mobile phone while driving, causing his bus to crash into roadside barriers along EDSA in Quezon City last May.

The conduct of the random drug testing is in line with Republic Act 10586 or the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.”

“Ang pagmamaneho habang nasa impluwensya ng ilegal na droga ay isang seryosong banta sa kaligtasan ng publiko. Hindi natin hahayaan na patuloy na magmaneho ang mga taong naglalagay sa panganib sa buhay ng kanilang mga pasahero at kapwa nila gumagamit ng kalsada,” LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said.

(Driving while under the influence of illegal drugs is a serious threat to public safety. We will not let these people who endanger the lives of their passengers and other road users to continue driving.)

“Dahil dito, agad nating ipinag-utos ang pag-revoke ng kanilang lisensya upang matiyak na hindi na sila makapagmaneho ng anumang sasakyan,” he added.

(Because of this, we immediately ordered the revocation of their licenses to ensure that they will no longer drive any vehicle.)

The LTO said it will continue to intensify the conduct of random drug tests and terminal inspections as part of its drive to ensure safe public transportation for commuters. — JMA, GMA News