Vice President Sara Duterte during her press conference at the Office of the Vice President, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Mandaluyong City, on October 17, 2024. – Duterte accepted calls for her to undergo a mental health examination, but only if 2025 election candidates will undergo drug tests. She even asked for the assistance of the Philippine Medical Association to set the guidelines for mental health and drug examinations. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte accepted calls for her to undergo a mental health examination, but only if 2025 election candidates will take drug tests.
Duterte said in a chance interview on Tuesday that she has no problem with a psychological test – and that she is even willing to take a drug test as long as congressional bets, especially those calling her “unstable,” will go through the same as soon as possible.
“I don’t have a problem with that, we’re game. But let us make this an election issue,” she told reporters in mixed Filipino and English.
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“So what we’re going to do is two tests for me, because they said I’m unstable, but to me, they are also unstable because why will they attack when they reply, they attack, they become angry,” she also said.
“My demand is two tests for me and one for them,” she continued.
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The vice president then asked for the assistance of the Philippine Medical Association to set the guidelines for mental health and drug examinations, pointing out that they should be conducted by an independent third party through hair follicle testing.
“It should happen now. Let’s all take the drug test. I will even add the nuero psych for me,” Duterte replied in mixed Filipino and English when asked when the examinations should be done.