Warning from LTO-7: Drug-positive drivers may lose their professional licenses perpetually

LTO-7 director Victor Caindec. | CDN file

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) said the seven public utility vehicle (PUV) and van-for-hire drivers who tested positive in the confirmatory test of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA) last March 29, 2019 may face perpetual revocation of licenses. 

This was revealed by LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec, who said that these drivers with professional licenses will be filed charges on the court for violating the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 or Republic Act 10586. 

Once convicted, these drivers will automatically lose their professional licenses perpetually and will be debarred from applying for any other driver’s licenses in the future. 

“Kung maconvict sila, dili na gyod sila ka apply balik og license,” Caindec told Cebu Daily News Digital. 

(If they are convicted, they can never apply for another license.) 

Caindec warned that LTO-7 is strictly and cautiously implementing RA 10586 to ensure the safety of the public.

He said that they are careful because the provisions of the law entails the filing of charges against the violators and not merely the issuance of a citation for every violation.

“Kailangan gyod nga careful ta kay bug-at ang penalties sa atong balaod,” he said.

(We need to be careful because the penalties set by the law are heavy.)

A fine ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 and a possibility of imprisonment for three months will be faced by any driver convicted for driving drunk or drugged. 

Caindec said that graver penalties will be imposed on drivers who will commit homicide or destruction of property for drunk or drugged driving as they will be facing charges of reckless driving as well. 

With this, Caindec encouraged passengers to report to the LTO-7 if they know of any PUV driver who drives while drunk or potentially drugged. 

He said that if they complain, they should file official affidavits so charges can be filed against the erring drivers.

“Some complainants no longer push through with the charges because it is inconvenient. Yet how are we going to discipline our drivers that way?” said Caindec.

For non-professional license holders, those caught for the same offense will have their licenses suspended for six months after the first offense and perpetual revocation on the second offense.

He warned that LTO-7 will be conducting random checkpoints together with law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) to identify drivers violating the law. 

He added that they have now 16 alcohol breath analyzers that they will be using during the checkpoints. 

“Naa tay balaod, tig implement ra mi. Kung masakpan mo nga hubog, pasensya nalang gyod. (We have a law, we are just the implementing body. If you get caught driving drunk, then we are sorry),” he said. 

Caindec hopes that drivers would always put safety first on the street and avoid driving drunk as well as avoiding drugs totally.

“The law is there for a reason,” said Caindec. /bmjo