Photo from PBA party-list Rep. Migs Nograles’ official FB page
MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte has maintained that he has already submitted himself to a hair follicle drug test, in response to a dare from her sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, for all aspiring candidates in the 2025 elections.
“I dare my opponent for the position of representative of Davao City’s 1st district, who is said to be a member of the so-called ‘young goons’ in Congress—or is it ‘guns’—to also undergo a hair follicle test,” Rep. Duterte said in a statement on Tuesday.
PBA party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles however said that this test done by Rep. Duterte is already outdated—daring her fellow lawmaker to take a new one on Wednesday, October 23.
The dare came after Duterte said: “If necessary, I am still willing to take another hair follicle test, and do it as many times as needed, to show the public that they have nothing to worry about when it comes to the integrity of their leaders.”
“I appreciate that you have posted your drug test result but this is an old test done last August,” Nograles said in a statement addressed to Duterte.
‘Join me for a new drug test tomorrow’
“For the sake of transparency and accountability to the people of Davao City, I’d like to invite you to join me for a new drug test tomorrow (October 23) at 1:30 p.m. at Hi Precision Laboratory in Bajada, Davao City. Let’s do it at the same time and together show the people of Davao City that we are not afraid to prove ourselves and show up. Hope to see you there,” she added.
READ: Sara warned Imee: I’ll dig up Marcos Sr.’s body
Nograles and Duterte will both vie for the congressional seat of Davao City’s first district, which the latter currently holds.
READ: VP Duterte says she daydreamed ‘cutting off’ Marcos’ head
Earlier, Vice President Duterte accepted calls by House of Representatives lawmakers for her to undergo a psychiatric examination, after her press briefing last Friday was seen as an outburst. Vice President Duterte however said she will do it as long as congressional bets will go through the drug test.
READ: Sara Duterte should seek ‘psychological assessment’ – lawmaker
During the said briefing, Duterte said that she told Senator Imee Marcos that she will dig up the corpse of her and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., if the political squabble between the two families continues.
Vice President Duterte also admitted to daydreaming about beheading President Marcos.
For this behavior, House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khongkun urged the Vice President to seek a psychological assessment.
The Nograleses and the Dutertes have been bitter rivals in the Davao local political scene. While the Dutertes have maintained their grip in the local elective positions, Rep. Nograles’ relatives dominated the congressional seats—her father is the late former Speaker Prospero Nograles, and her brother is former Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles.
The 2016 elections saw the two families setting politics aside, with the former speaker Nograles saying that he will support Rep. Duterte’s father, former Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who ran for the presidency and won
Karlo meanwhile was also a key fixture in the Duterte cabinet, having served as cabinet secretary, presidential spokesperson, chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which tackled the COVID-19 response, and eventually, as Civil Service Commission head.
Karlo was also one of the first to rally support behind former president Duterte in 2015, when the Davao mayor was undecided about running for the country’s highest position.
However, aside from Rep. Duterte and Rep. Nograles clashing, it appears former President Duterte and former Karlo would be facing off in Davao City’s mayoral race.