Voluntary drug test for candidates

Manila -- Political aspirants should go through “voluntary” drug testing to ensure Filipino voters that their preferred candidates in the 2019 midterm elections have no links to illegal drugs, Malacañang said on Friday, October 19.

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said election hopefuls cannot be forced to undergo drug testing.

Panelo’s statement came following the proposal of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct surprise drug tests on candidates running in next year’s polls.

“Well, sa tingin ko dapat voluntary. Kung ayaw, hindi naman pupuwedeng pupuwersahin mo (Drug testing should be voluntary. You cannot force candidates if they do not like it),” Panelo said.

“Kung wala naman talagang itinatago, magvo-volunteer talaga iyan. Hindi papayag ‘yun [kung nasa listahan sila ng drug watch list] (If they are not hiding anything, they will really volunteer. They will not volunteer if they are in the government’s drug watch list),” he added.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino on Wednesday, October 17, wanted candidates in the 2019 midterm elections to undergo a surprise drug test in order to identify those involved in illegal drugs.