ILOILO City – This city’s campaign against drunk driving continues to face major obstacles due to a shortage of alcohol-testing equipment and the stringent legal requirements for proving intoxication, limiting authorities’ ability to apprehend and prosecute offenders even as alcohol-related crashes continue to raise public concern.
Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) chief Uldarico Garbanzos said enforcing Republic Act (RA) No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, remains difficult because they lack sufficient Alcohol Breath Analyzers (ABAs) and must comply with a series of mandatory procedures before charges can be filed.
“The biggest challenge is proving that a driver is under the influence. Even the police have limited equipment to immediately test suspected drunk drivers on the spot,” Garbanzos said.
He added that Iloilo City’s traffic ordinance also has limitations in addressing drunk driving cases.
“Under Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2008-393, what is clearly provided is reckless driving. It does not specifically spell out the procedures for driving under the influence, so we rely on the national law,” he explained.
Garbanzos said roadside apprehension of suspected drunk drivers is governed by strict procedures under RA 10586, making enforcement more complicated.
He explained that officers must first establish probable cause by observing erratic driving behavior and visible signs of intoxication before conducting field sobriety tests, including an eye test, walk-and-turn test, and one-leg stand test.
Only after a driver fails the initial assessments can authorities administer an Alcohol Breath Analyzer test to determine whether the driver’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds the legal limit.
“These are not simple procedures. Our roadside personnel must be properly trained, and the necessary equipment should be readily available. Otherwise, cases may not prosper,” Garbanzos said.
He acknowledged that the lengthy process discourages immediate enforcement and makes filing cases more difficult despite suspicions that a driver may be intoxicated.
The TTMO chief issued the statement following a head-on collision involving two motorcycles along Diversion Road on July 12, where one of the riders was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
The crash occurred while a fun run was being held in the area, renewing calls for stricter enforcement of anti-drunk driving laws.
Garbanzos said strengthening enforcement would require additional breath analyzers, continuous training for traffic enforcers, and closer coordination with law enforcement agencies.
“We need both the equipment and the capability to properly implement the law. The objective is not merely to apprehend motorists but to prevent road crashes caused by impaired driving,” he said./PN
