Three out of 87 persons found positive of drug use

Drivers, conductors, dispatchers and ambulant vendors accredited by the Cebu South Bus Terminal take the surprise drug test at the terminal. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Three persons among the 87 drivers, conductors, dispatchers and ambulant vendors of the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) were found positive for drug use after a surprise drug test was conducted at the terminal.

Joey Herrera, CSBT chief, said they had yet to identify the three persons from the list of names of those who underwent yesterday’s drug testing conducted by the Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Office (CPADAO).

Herrera also said that the initial drug test results of the three persons found positive of drug use would also undergo confirmatory testing.

CPADAO conducted the surprise drug test yesterday morning and the drug test results were already available at 3 p.m. on the same day.

Herrera said if those found positive of drug use would be an ambulant vendor accredited by the CSBT, then that vendor would not be allowed to sell his or her goods at the terminal.

He said if it would be a CSBT-accredited dispatcher, then he would be reported to the operator for whatever sanctions the operator would enforce, but that dispatcher would no longer be allowed to work at the terminal.

“Ato ning subayon kinsa ni sila kay delikado na sila kung mo-drive (We have to identify who these people are because it will be dangerous if they will be allowed to continue driving),” said Herrera, who cited the risk of letting a driver continue transporting passengers if he was found to be positive for using drugs.

Herrera said drivers found positive for drug use during the confirmatory testing would already be barred from driving to protect the welfare of the CSBT commuters.

He said they would recommend to the bus operators for the suspension of these drivers or conductors.

“Tinuod gyud di ay ang mga estorya nga niabot sa atong opisina. Mao ni rason nga nibuhat ta og lakang (The stories of illegal drug use of these persons were proven to be true. This was the reason we conducted the surprise drug test),” he said.

He was referring to three CSBT-accredited bus conductors who were arrested during a recent anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Mambaling.

He also said that aside from informing the bus operators about drivers found positive for drug use, they would also furnish copies of the drug test results to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for sanctions on these drivers since the LTO could confiscate the driver’s license of these drivers.

Herrera said that there were also a few drivers who failed to take the drug test.

“Ato na silang timan-an. Once iapil sa lista, wala pa na sila unya i-surprise nasad na sila pohon (We will make a list of their names and make them undergo a surprise drug test later),” he said.

Herrera said that yesterday’s surprise drug testing was agreed upon by the CSBT and the bus operators.