War on drugs: Philippines wants mandatory drug tests for college admissions
The Philippines is stepping up President Rodrigo Duterte’s battle on drugs with incoming college first-year students set to face tests for illegal drug use from next year, an education official said on Friday.
A wave of 2,400 killings unleashed in a war on drugs since Duterte came to power two months ago has gained popular support in the Southeast Asian nation, but has alarmed the United Nations and the United States, Manila’s close ally.
What’s important is for students not to use drugs. It will be a deterrent if they want to continue their studies
The government seeks to make drug testing a requirement for all incoming college students, said Julito Vitriolo, the executive director of the Commission on Higher Education.
“This was born out of the president’s call to make campuses drug-free, because we see the pervasive effects of drug use,” he said in a television interview.
“What’s important is for students not to use drugs. It will be a deterrent if they want to continue their studies,” Vitriolo said, adding that those testing positive could go through rehabilitation before being admitted to college.