The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday there is no existing order that can direct the police to conduct mandatory drug test on candidates running for public office.
“The most that we can do is to support the suggestion for political aspirants to submit themselves to a voluntary drug test to prove to their followers and supporters that they are clean,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said during a news briefing.
This developed as the Partido Reporma tandem of Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo M. Lacson underwent drug tests at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday, saying they wanted to send a signal that all public servants, especially aspirants for high office, “should be beyond rebuke.”
The two senators arrived at PDEA offices past 2 p.m. and underwent what they described as a battery of tests, noting that the PDEA uses a “multi-test” process that screens not just for shabu and marijuana—the most widely used among illegal drugs—but other prohibited drugs as well.
The results came back after five hours: the senators tested negative. President Duterte earlier claimed that a presidential candidate who comes from a wealthy family is an illegal drugs user. He did not name the candidate whom he said uses cocaine.
Duterte’s revelation is already being looked into by the police and PDEA.
The PNP said it would take the cue from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the possible procedural guidelines regarding the conduct of drug tests on candidates.
“We will be ready to facilitate, and we can use our PNP Forensic Group, but let us cross the bridge when we get there,” Carlos said.
Once the result is out, the PNP will immediately submit it to the requesting body. An investigation will follow if someone will test positive for drug use.
Under Section 15 of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, “A person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six [6] months rehabilitation in a government center for the first offense, subject to the provisions of Article VIII of this Act.”