Drug test centers at LTO hit

Private drug testing centers became the object of criticisms last week after it was found out that a big majority of the driver-applicants were mostly found negative of drug use. In a check with the office of Land Transportation Office Registrar Macario Getaruelas, records show that since he assumed office in May 2005, only seven applicants were found positive of drug use. Of the seven, three applicants have since been declared negative while the rest are yet to get a clean bill. The same records show that hundreds of applicants for drivers have been subjected to drug testing and in most cases they are found negative of drug abuse.

The drug testing issue exploded in public after former Panglao mayor Benedicto Alcala went on air over DYTR's Cuentas Claras Monday denouncing the way drug tests are being conducted at the local LTO. The former mayor told the morning radio program that he had it from a good authority that driver—applicants are just allowed to urinate along the sides of the LTO offices and presto! they are found negative of drug use.

Informed of this observation, Geturuelas denied having allowed this arrangement saying the drug testing process is conducted in an honest—to-- goodness manner. The radio program was swamped with calls and text messages attesting to the truth of Alcala's claims regarding drug testing activities at the LTO. Sought for his comment, lawyer Victor de la Serna's minced no words in attacking the procedure saying that it has been going on for years. He even went to the extent of saying that there is an unholy alliance between the LTO and the operators of the drug testing centers to come up with extortionate rate on hapless driver-applicants. He also took to task the men behind this scheme saying that it is being run by a nationwide mafia engaged in systematic extortion.

Alarmed about the massive negative response from the public, the program anchormen got in touch with Gov. Erico Aumentado if it was possible for government hospitals to come into the picture. Unknown to the program anchors, the governor was already appraised of the problem and he has already made representation with Dr. Nenita Moraga Po, chief of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital that its drug test results can be accommodated at the LTO. Geturuelas confirmed that drug test results taken from any government hospital are accepted at the local LTO.

Drug testing at the government hospital is pegged at P150.00 while that of the LTO premises is priced at P300.00. Asked if the LTO is getting a part of the action considering the disparity in prices of the two testing centers, Geturuelas denied getting a share of the transaction. At the LTO vicinity, at least five testing centers are doing business there. They are identified as Bohol Drug Testing,San Rpque Drug Testing, APL, Mahogany, Drug Check and 2 GO. In bringing into the open the alleged irregularity in the drug testing process at the LTO, Alcala expressed alarm over the high incidence of crimes against persons with drugs as one of the culprits. He recalled that in Panglao, the residents were stunned to discover that a rape incident that happened sometime in April 2004 had all the hallmarks of a drug-related crime. The former mayor was likewise alarmed of the rising cases of fatal road accidents in the Dauis-Panglao highway which could be attributed in some instances to drivers found positive of drug use.

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