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A proposal for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to conduct random drug testing on foreign students in language centers in the country was endorsed to the Department of Justice on Oct. 21.
?To ensure that these foreign students in language centers, which would not fall under regular schools in the country, the BI with the Department of Health should undertake the drug testing,? said Undersecretary Clarence Paul Oaminal, the vice chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
Oaminal made the request after two Koreans were caught recently allegedly smoking marijuana in a parking lot of a disco bar in Cebu City.
The Dangerous Drugs Board together with the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education has implemented random drug testing of students in compliance with the anti-drugs law.
More than 12,000 high school students had already undergone random drug testing.
Oaminal said he had heard reports of foreign students in language centers, who were allegedly using drugs.
He said it would be administratively feasible for the BI to monitor and ensure the compliance of the random drug tests directive upon approval of the Secretary of Justice of Oaminal's request.
He said there is a need for a special program to monitor to these foreign students in language centers because they would not stay long in the country when compared to those taking up regular courses.
?The move is not intended to prevent these students from having fun in our country but to remind them that they should respect our laws, specifically our laws on drugs,? Oaminal said.
