The Philippine Star

Paolo to Trillanes: Let’s do it in Taguig

- By EDITH REGALADO

Presidenti­al son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte accepted the challenge of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for them to undergo a comprehens­ive drug test after the young Duterte claimed that a senator is using cocaine.

Duterte suggested they have themselves tested at a high-precision drug test center in Bonifacio Global City, which could detect illegal drugs in hair samples.

He said the hair follicle drug test can detect seven major drug classes like cocaine, opiates, metampheta­mine, marijuana, ketamine and benzodiaze­pine.

“If the rank and file could submit themselves to drug testing, the more should those elected in public office. Many of them, if not all, may have submitted themselves to a simple drug test before, but I encourage them to undergo the more precise examinatio­ns available in Metro Manila that would not just detect illegal drugs in urine or blood but even in hair follicles,” Duterte said.

Duterte earlier said he got his informatio­n about the drug-using lawmaker from a friend who is also a friend of the cocaine-using senator.

Duterte, however, refused to divulge the identity of the senator while he is gathering evidence to substantia­te his accusation.

Even if the young Duterte did not name anyone, Trillanes was quick to dispel the vice mayor’s statement as he challenged the presidenti­al son to name the senator in public.

Trillanes also dared the vice mayor to submit himself to a drug test using both urine and blood samples.

In his reply, Duterte said he would gladly do it as he urged Trillanes and all of the senators to do the same considerin­g that most of the public servants have already been doing it in support of the anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Duterte.

Vice Mayor Duterte and most of Davao City’s councilors have already undergone drug tests conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcemen­t Agency and all of them tested negative.

The vice mayor said he would also undergo a more comprehens­ive drug testing in Manila, one that could detect illegal drugs taken even months or years back.

 ??  ?? Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (left) is challengin­g Sen. Antonio Trillanes and other senators to submit hair samples to be tested for illegal drugs.
Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (left) is challengin­g Sen. Antonio Trillanes and other senators to submit hair samples to be tested for illegal drugs.
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