Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines —Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Thursday encouraged aspirants in the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to submit themselves to drug testing in hopes of strengthening the country’s campaign against illegal narcotics.
According to Abalos, future leaders should show their willingness to serve the country by undergoing voluntary drug tests, although it is not a requirement for running.
“Siguro sa lahat ng tatakbo we are fighting a war that is a global problem kung gusto niyo manilbihan sa bayan one of the biggest problems is illegal drugs, siguro magpa-drug test kayo. I’m calling out all the candidates,” Abalos said in a media briefing.
(For those running, we are fighting a war that is a global problem. If you want to serve the country, one of the biggest problems is illegal drugs; maybe you should take a drug test. I’m calling out all the candidates.)
According to the Commission on Elections, substance abuse is not included in the grounds for disqualifying a candidate running for office.
Political aspirants may only be disqualified if a competent authority declares that they are insane or incompetent and have been sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or any offense that a candidate served a sentence of more than 18 months, as stated under Omnibus Election Code.
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