Vice President Sara Duterte is willing to take a psychiatric exam to prove her mental capacity, but she challenged “Young Guns” in the House of Representatives and other congressional candidates to take a televised drug test as well before the elections next year.

Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media on the sidelines of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)

During a media interview in Pasay City on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the official said she is ready to undergo a neurological psychiatric exam after last week’s press conference that supposedly showed her mental instability.

“Wala akong problema dun. Game tayo (I don’t have a problem with that. I am game),” she replied to reporters.

“Pero (But) let us make this an election issue . . . neuro and drug test (for me) pero lahat ng mga young guns na mga kandidato, lahat ng mga congressional candidates ay magpa-drug test (for all young guns who are candidates, all congressional candidates should undergo a drug test),” the Vice President added.

“As a voter, I demand magpa-drug test sila. Kayong lahat, mga kababayan as voters, you demand mag-drug test ang mga congressional candidates (they should undergo drug test. All voters should demand congressional candidates undergo a drug test).”

Duterte made these remarks after lawmakers attacked her due to her comments last Friday of exhuming the remains of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throwing them to the West Philippine Sea.

She argued that she doesn’t see anything wrong with her comments since she made it after a series of political attacks, which she claimed were launched against her by the Marcos family.

The official explained her reasons for demanding lawmakers to undergo a drug test, and said it was even unfair to her because she would be willing to undergo both psychological and drug tests.

“Ang paningin ko sa kanila unstable din sila, di ba? Bakit? Aatake sila. Pag sumagot ‘yung inaatake nila, magagalit sila na tinatawag nilang unstable. Para sa akin, unstable din kayo (I see them as unstable, too. Why? They are going to attack. When their victim answers, they are going to get angry and call me unstable. For me, you are also unstable),” Duterte said.

The Vice President even called on the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Psychiatric Association “to set the guidelines.”

Duterte likewise blasted Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for saying that the agency would study if Duterte violated any laws when she made the comments about Marcos Sr.’s remains.

“Unang una, ipagdasal natin ang Pilipinas dahil we have a secretary of justice na hindi alam ang batas (First of all, let’s pray for the Philippines because we have a secretary of justice who doesn’t know the law). Talking about desecration of a body is not desecration of the dead. Sana siguro as a lawyer maintindihan niya ‘yun agad (As a lawyer, he should know that),” she said.

She scoffed at questions about her looking “desperate” during Friday’s press conference, reminding her detractors that she is still the country’s second-highest official.

“Iyan ang problema nila kasi (That’s their problem because) they have never seen anything like Sara. Di ako maaareglo, di ako mabayaran ng budget, di ako mabayaran ng pera (I cannot be bribed with budget and money),” Duterte said.

“Ang laki ng problema nila kasi ngayon ayoko na tumahimik. Noon, walang nagsasalita kontra sa administrasyon. Ngayon, mayroon na isang tao kontra (They have a big problem because I cannot be silenced now. Before, nobody questions the administration. Now, there is one opposition),” she added.