With Court Injunction, LTO Revives Drug Testing

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas has revived on Wednesday the mandatory drug testing for those persons who applies for a new or renewal of their expired driver’s licenses.

Several drivers complained because they were surprised when the LTO personnel required them to proceed first to any accredited drug testing companies to undergo a drugtest before their applications can be processed.

What they have learned was that the mandatory drug testing has been abolished already under Section 19 of Republic Act 10586, which was signed into law by President Aquino last June.

But LTO- 7 Acting Regional Director Arnel Tancinco explained that they were only following the order of Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Toledo City Judge Hermes Montero who issued a writ of preliminary injunction against the abolition of mandatory drug testing.

The court granted the petition filed by Dulcisimo Tuldanes of Toledo City, who sought to nullify the June 27, 2013 memorandum issued by LTO Chief Virginia Torres in compliance with the provision of the new law.

Central Visayas is the only LTO office in the country that still requires drug testing for applicants of driver’s license, although it is not yet permanent because the court would still hear the petition of Tuldanes.

The mandatory drug testing is aimed to identify the drivers who are into illegal drugs, but Mayor Michael Rama said he supports for the complete abolition of the mandatory drug test.

Even Richard Corominas, the president of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and Julie Flores, the president of the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association, had objected to the mandatory drug test.