LTO-7 to cancel licenses of drug-positive drivers

Passengers wait to board buses plying the north of Cebu at the Cebu North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City. | CDN file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) has suspended the licenses of the seven jeepney and van-for-hire (V-hire) drivers, who were found positive in the drug test conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7).

According to LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec, the drug-positive drivers would undergo a confirmatory test from PDEA-7 to reaffirm the initial drug test conducted on Friday, March 29.

In a text message to CDN Digital, Caindec said that only when the confirmatory test results would be released would the licenses of the drivers be cancelled.

“Their licenses are already with us pending the confirmatory tests by PDEA-7. Once the results are out, we will move for the cancellation of their licenses,” said Caindec in the text message.

Leah Albiar,  PDEA-7 public information officer, said that of the seven drivers found positive in the drug test, six were jeepney drivers and one was a vehicle-for-hire driver.

One of the jeepney drivers tested positive for marijuana.

The surprise drug test was conducted in the Kamagayan Terminal and Ayala Public Utility Vehicle Terminal in Cebu City, and North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City.

A total of 174 drivers underwent the random drug test conducted by PDEA-7.

LTO-7 has yet to decide if the drivers may get their licenses back once they test positive from the confirmatory tests./dbs