The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, Nov. 24, welcomed the initiative of some presidential candidates to undergo voluntary drug testing.
“We will document the results, of course. It’s good that they are serving as good examples to the public,” said PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, in a statement.
He, however, said this will not stop the PNP from initiating an investigation in case there is valuable information that will link a candidate to the illegal drug trade or drug use.
Carlos also reiterated that while the law does not require a mandatory drug test for all candidates vying for public office, the organization will support such measure once it is implemented.
He added the PNP is willing to assist through its competent Forensic Group with any request from both local and national candidates to undergo drug tests.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is the latest presidential candidate to undergo voluntary drug testing.
In a letter to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva on Wednesday, Domagoso said he will make himself available for drug testing at the PDEA main office in Quezon City at the soonest possible time.
On Monday, Nov. 22, Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate, Senator Vicente Sotto III underwent a drug test at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City, which yielded negative results for shabu, cocaine, ecstasy, and other narcotics.
Also on Monday, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said he underwent drug testing at a private hospital in Metro Manila and furnished a copy of the negative results to PDEA.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed that a candidate for next year’s presidential elections is using cocaine.
Duterte did not divulge the identity of the presidential hopeful but dropped hints that the latter is a male with a “very weak” character and comes from a wealthy family with a prominent patriarch.PNA
