Tricycle Driver Tests Positive for Drugs in Iloilo City Check

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Gerome Dalipe IV

A tricycle driver tested positive for illegal drug use during a surprise random drug testing operation by the Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas (LTO-6) on May 29.

The operation, held under “Oplan Harabas,” took place at the Ungka and Tagbak terminals in Iloilo City, where 214 drivers were tested—102 from Ungka and 112 from Tagbak.

Drivers of taxis, tricycles and modernized buses were included in the screening.

The joint operation was conducted by LTO-6, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Iloilo City Government.

LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II said the campaign aims to ensure road safety and prevent drug-impaired driving, which remains a significant cause of traffic fatalities.

“This operation reflects our unwavering commitment to protect commuters and reduce these unacceptable numbers,” Geduspan said.

The Philippines records an average of 12,000 road crash fatalities annually, with approximately 500 in Western Visayas alone, according to LTO data.

LTO-6 Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu said the sample from the tricycle driver who tested positive will undergo confirmatory testing at the PDEA central laboratory.

“This is a surprise and random drug test,” Conlu said.

“We ask drivers to undergo voluntary drug testing, and PDEA will follow its protocols after collecting the specimen,” he added.

This follows a similar LTO-6 operation in April at the same terminals where four drivers initially tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.

On May 28, LTO revoked the licenses of the four drivers and permanently disqualified them from applying for new ones.

The order described the individuals as “improper persons to operate motor vehicles.”

“Oplan Harabas” was conducted in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate drug use among public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

The initiative is also part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) observance of Road Safety Month and supports broader efforts to ensure a drug-free public transport system.

LTO-6 officials said they will continue random inspections throughout the year as part of a sustained campaign to rid the transport sector of illegal drug use.