The presidential candidates of the two opposing factions of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) have expressed their readiness to undergo a drug test.
Senators Manny Pacquiao and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa--who are both standard bearers of the ruling political party but are backed by different set of groups--said they favor a drug testing for all candidates of the May 2022 national and local elections.
“Agree ako dapat pakita natin na malinis tayo. At bago start ng campaign ay sabay-sabay na pa-drug test kami lahat (I agree that we should all prove that we are clean. And before the start of the campaign, we should all of us candidates should agree to a drug test),” Pacquiao said when sought for comment.
Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, also said a drug test among political candidates is a must as ordinary workers are also subjected to mandatory drug testing.
“Dapat lang! Yung security guard nga na nagbabantay lang ng isang establisimento ay required na magpadrugtest. Iyon pang presidente na magbabantay at mangungulo ng buong bansa exempted sa drugtest? Unfair noh? (That’s only right! The security guard guarding establishments are being required to undergo drug test. So why should the person applying to be President and will be leading and guarding the nation be exempted from drug test? That’s unfair isn’t it)?” Dela Rosa pointed out.
Pacquiao is backed by the camp of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The boxing turned politician would be running together with Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza.
Dela Rosa, on the other hand, is supported by the camp of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and is running alongside with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
Dela Rosa is also the chief implementer of the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs also known as “Oplan Tokhang" during his stint as PNP chief, and which is now the subject of the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC).