Robin Padilla wants annual mandatory drug testing of all gov't officials
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senator Robinhood Padilla filed a bill requiring all public officials, including the President, to undergo annual mandatory drug testing, with sanctions for those who test positive, amid reports of alleged drug use by a staff member in his office.
Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill that requires all elected and appointed officials of public offices including the President to undergo an annual mandatory drug testing.
Senator Robinhood Padilla (Senate PRIB photo)
“Kung ang taumbayan ay inaasahang malinis sa bawal na gamot, dapat magsimula ito sa mga lingkod-bayan mismo. Ang pamumuno ay dapat walang bahid at handang sumailalim sa pamantayan ng katapatan at pananagutan (If the public is expected to be free from illegal drugs, it must begin with the public servants themselves. Leadership should be spotless and willing to undergo the standards of integrity and accountability),” Padilla said in filing Senate Bill No. 1200.
This includes all elected and appointed officials of the government, government instrumentalities, or government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), whether domestic or overseas, including the President.
Under it, any official found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively which shall be a ground for suspension or termination from office, subject to certain pertinent laws.
It also states that candidates for electoral posts are not precluded from undergoing voluntary hair follicle drug test within 90 days prior the election day.
Drug testing will be done through two methods: hair follicle drug test that will determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and the confirmatory test which shall be done through urine drug test that will confirm a positive screening test.
This proposed measure comes amid news reports involving Nadia Montenegro, one of Padilla's political officers, accused of using marijuana within the Senate premises.