AQUINO PUSHES STRICTER ANTI-DRUNK DRIVING LAW AS ROAD CRASHES RISE

Senator Bam Aquino seeks the revision of Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, in a bid to strengthen the current law amid rising accident cases.

The proposed changes, under Senate Bill No. 2068, struggle to maintain road safety as the Department of Health's Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System showed that during Holy Week, 1,555 road accidents were recorded, recording a 255.8% surge compared to the figures last year.

23-year-old Kingston Ralph Cheng was one of the victims of a hit-and-run by a speeding drunk driver on February 8, in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

"The death of Kingston Cheng is a painful reminder that we must do better to keep our roads safe," Aquino said.

"The changes to this bill ensure that our rules are not only reactive, but proactive; not only punitive, but preventive; and above all, responsive to the value we place on every Filipino life and the lives of young Filipinos, who are unduly affected by road crashes,” he added.

Aquino further asserted that Cheng's case highlights gaps in the current law, particularly when testing is delayed, and a suspect's blood alcohol content may subside.

"Under the current law, a driver can evade liability simply by avoiding immediate testing. This is unacceptable; justice should not depend on how long someone can delay enforcement," Aquino said.

The bill proposes stricter blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits, lowering the threshold from 0.05% to 0.02% for new and professional drivers, as well as public utility vehicle operators, and to 0.03% for private motorists.

It also states that having a license implies consent to alcohol or drug testing when lawfully required and that such testing be conducted within two hours after an incident

Moreover, the bill enables a scientific method called retrograde extrapolation, which allows experts to calculate the alcohol level of the driver at the time of the crash.

Violators are required to participate in state-accredited alcohol safety programs to address behavioral issues. Recurring offenders will face installation of ignition interlock devices to prevent the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver's breath.