Senator Bam Aquino calls for stronger anti-drunk driving law

Senator Bam Aquino introduced a measure to strengthen the Philippines' anti-drunk and drugged driving law. 

According to a news release of the Senate of the Philippines, the initiative aims to address existing gaps in the legislation and provide better protection for young Filipinos, who remain among the most vulnerable to road crashes.

Senate Bill No. 2068, introduced by Senator Aquino. This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10586, also known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The proposed amendment addresses concerns that the current law has failed to keep pace with the evolving realities of road safety. 

Current data indicates that road crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for young Filipinos, highlighting the urgent need for this legislative update.

Recent data from government reports indicating that drunk driving cases have increased by 255.8 percent compared to last year.

"What was intended to be a strong deterrent has not kept pace with the realities on our roads. Too many families continue to lose loved ones. Too many drivers still take the risk of getting behind the wheel while impaired. Too often, accountability comes too late, or not at all,"  Aquino said.

Among the key provisions of Senate Bill No. 2068 are about blood alcohol concentration (BAC) thresholds and testing procedures.

The bill establishes lower, science-based BAC limits:

• 0.02% for novice drivers, professional drivers, and operators of public utility vehicles, and

•  0.03% for all other private motor vehicle drivers.

To ensure accountability, the measure introduces "implied consent," stipulating that holding a driver's license constitutes an agreement to undergo alcohol or drug testing when lawfully required.

All drivers involved in an incident must undergo chemical testing within two hours. Police officers and medical institutions are responsible for ensuring these tests are conducted immediately.

The measure allows for the use of retrograde extrapolation—a scientific process used to estimate a person’s BAC at the time of driving by projecting backward from the time a chemical test was administered. This will help determine a driver’s level of intoxication at the actual time of an incident.

Beyond stricter penalties and enforcement, the measure focuses on prevention and rehabilitation. It requires offenders to attend a state-accredited alcohol safety program and mandates the installation of ignition interlock devices for repeat violators.

“At its core, this measure adopts a ‘Vision Zero’ approach: the belief that no loss of life on our roads is acceptable. Road safety is not just a matter of enforcement. It is a matter of policy, design, behavior, and accountability working together,” Aquino said.

The senator also cited the case of Kingston Ralph Cheng, 23, who died in a tragic hit-and-run incident involving a drunk driver in Cebu City on February 8, 2026.

"Kingston’s case exposed a critical gap in the law. Because testing was delayed, the suspect’s blood alcohol level had already dissipated, making it difficult to establish intoxication at the time of the incident. 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 in the explanatory note of his bill.

-Paraluman  News