Grab drivers to join campaign vs illegal drugs

Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu assured that it would cooperate with the PNP and ensure that their drivers would be more alert and disciplined. (Photo: Grab/Facebook)

MANILA— The Philippine National Police (PNP) will train drivers of ridesharing firm Grab on road safety and security as it seeks to utilize them as force multipliers in the campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

Grab has signed an agreement with the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Tuesday at Camp Crame in Quezon City to train drivers to detect suspicious packages 
PNP-HPG Director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobar said they expect Grab drivers to help in reporting illegal drug-related incidents, according to a report from state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

He advised the drivers to be on alert with their passengers especially those with packages that they will deliver.

The training program will focus on road courtesy and traffic safety laws, road crash responder, and anti-criminality.

Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu assured that it would cooperate with the PNP and ensure that their drivers would be more alert and disciplined.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) warned Monday the drivers of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) not to allow themselves to be used as unwitting couriers of illegal drugs.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that drug syndicates have learned to utilize the mobile applications of transportation network companies through registering fictitious names and pre-activated SIM cards to avoid detection.

Local TNVS, such as Grab and Uber, offer doorstep express deliveries using cars and motorbikes that are covered by insurance and real-time tracking and notification alerts.