By Ben Rosario  LIPA CITY, Batangas - Advocates of the proposed medical marijuana bill found an ally in presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (HUGPONG NG PAGBABAGO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) “Sa tingin ko naman if there is scientific basis na ang cannabis ay gamot, dapat siguro hindi natin ipagkait yun sa mga pasyente na nangangailangan talaga ng ganoong gamot (If there is indeed scientific basis that cannabis can cure, we must not deny this to patients who need it),” the Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson said in an interview. “So, best if it's regulated by the government if there is really scientific and medical basis na nakakaheal yun ng mga sakit ng mga tao,” she said. The lady mayor aired her view two days after President Duterte declared he won’t sign the measure proposing to legalize marijuana for medical purposes as this could be used as a convenient excuse to plant and use marijuana. “Hindi ako pumayag, not in my time, maybe some other time, some other president maybe,” declared the chief executive during a campaign sortie of the PDP-Laban senatorial team. Duterte said he is not aware of scientific studies that claim medicinal properties of marijuana, which is one of the items regulated under the Dangerous Drugs Code. Only government can plant marijuana Former president now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is backing House Bill 6517 (Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act) saying a pain patch made of cannabis oil had helped her counter the pain of a pinched nerve while she was abroad. The Lower House passed HB 6517 on third and final reading but the Senate has yet to pass its own version of the bill. Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano, principal author of the measure remains optimistic that senators will act on the measure although he admitted that the window for approval is slim due to the election break. “If the Senate fails to pass its version within the 17th Congress, then it will be back to zero in the next,” said Albano. Aside from Arroyo, reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray also declared publicly her support to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Albano said HB 6517 contains strict provisions that guarantee that no raw marijuana leaves will be used in treating patients with serious medical conditions, particularly those suffering from extreme pain. And only government can cultivate marijuana plant for medical use. “Sale of raw or dried marijuana that is not in medicinal form is prohibited. Smoking the substance remains illegal under the bill,” said Albano.