The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency wants a mandatory drug test for teachers and students in grade four and up, Director General Aaron Aquino said Thursday.
He said he had already raised his proposal with the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Malacañang on Thursday defended President Rodrigo Duterte ’s remarks against the relatives of slain drug pushers calling for justice.
“It does not involve the victims who are otherwise victims of police excesses,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.
“Don’t expect any justice from the government if a person was killed in a drug war,” Duterte said in his speech Monday in response to the call for justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings.
“If you think that you can get justice simply because you lost somebody who’s a bullshit into drugs, I’m sorry to tell you I will not allow it,” Duterte said.
Aaron said his proposal was an offshoot of a series of arrests involving students and teachers in the war against drugs.
“The youngest [we have arrested] is 10 years old,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aquino on Thursday distributed P189,086,902 worth of equipment including vehicles, computer and forensic equipment to its units to beef up their operational capability.
To boost the productivity of PDEA personnel, he said, the agency bought 135 computer units worth P8,257,901.79, and 86 units of a device worth P89,791,000 to improve the efficiency of digital investigators.
On the other hand, to improve mobility, PDEA acquired 43 units of Toyota Hi-Ace vehicles at P61,834,000.00, 20 units of Toyota Vios at P17,275,000, and 151 units of Yamaha motorcycles at P11,929,000.