FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso speaking during his third state of the city address. Courtesy of Manila PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno has asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to schedule a substance abuse test for him after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that a presidential aspirant is a cocaine user.
“Sumulat na ako sa PDEA. Nagpapaschedule na ako na ako ay itest sa cocaine, sa shabu, sa marijuana, pati solvent kung nagsolvent man ako, lahat,” Moreno said Wednesday in an interview with Teleradyo’s On the Spot.
(I already wrote to PDEA. I asked them to schedule for me a drug test for cocaine, shabu, marijuana, solvent, and other drugs.)
“We are willing [to be tested] of course, kung ‘yun ang kinakailangan, mapapanatag ang tao. Tama ang gobyerno doon. Kung ikaw ay magiging presidente at ikaw ay drug user, how can you go fight against drugs?” Moreno said.
(We are willing to be tested, of course, if that’s what is needed and if that will set the public at ease. The government is right. If you will become president but you are a drug user, how can you fight against the drug trade?)
Duterte earlier hinted that the presidential aspirant supposedly using cocaine comes from a well-known and rich clan.
Following the claim of the President, other politicians like Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is gunning for the presidency, and his running-mate Senator Vicente Sotto III got tested for illegal drug use. Both tested negative in their voluntary tests.
Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is seeking the presidency also said he took a test for cocaine use and tested negative.
Senator Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, released his negative drug test results taken in July and September this year.