PDEA hits critics of drug test proposal for teachers, students

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday hit back at critics of the proposal to make mandatory the drug testing for teachers and students from Grade 4 and up.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said it is premature for critics to issue statements against his proposal, which aims to protect children from illegal drugs.

“Others comment as if we don’t know how to do our job,” he said in Filipino at a news briefing.

Aquino explained students and personnel of public and private schools should undergo surprise drug testing every school year as part of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

He pointed out that PDEA has rescued 770 minors aged 10 to 17 since President Duterte took office in July 2016 and implemented the war on drugs. Of the 770 minors, 588 are pushers while 182 are users.

“Do you think this is not serious?” Aquino said to his critics.

He also said that PDEA received reports that some students enrolled in schools just for the purpose of peddling drugs.

Aquino stressed that the country’s drug problem cannot be solved solely by law enforcement operations. Other measures to prevent students from being exposed to illegal drugs must be done.