REELECTIONIST Sen. Vicente Sotto III and vice presidential aspirant Gregorio Honasan have submitted themselves to a drug test in Cebu City and both were found negative for illegal substances.
In statement, Sotto said he chose to have the drug test taken in Cebu City since he is from the province. His grandfather and namesake, Vicente Yap Sotto Sr., was a prominent Cebuano who, like him, was also a senator. Aside from being a legislator, the late Senator Sotto is also acknowledged as the “father of Cebuano literature.’’
Sotto and Honasan took the test during their visit to the regional police office of Region 7 in Cebu City. The drug test was administered by the chemists of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region VII.
The two senators were accompanied by actor Vic Sotto, the senator’s younger brother, and basketball star Mark Pingris. They were welcomed to the regional police headquarters by Chief Supt. Sheldon Jacaban, deputy regional director for administration.
Aside from barnstorming in Cebu City, the two senators were also there for Vic’s birthday.
The two senators said they decided to undergo drug testing to show the electorate that they are drug free and hope that the other candidates in the May 9 election would follow their example.
A drug test used to be a requirement under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for all those seeking elective positions. However, it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
“Even if the Supreme Court has ruled the drug testing requirement for persons seeking elective positions as unconstitutional, the candidates themselves should voluntary undergo the tests if they want to be the role models in society,” Sotto said.
If reelected, Sotto vowed to amend the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. He said some provisions of RA 9165 needed to be strengthened. Sotto said he already drafted an amendment and hopes to have it passed in the next Senate.
Honasan said he will support the amendment if he fails to make it in the vice presidential race. Honasan still has three remaining years before his term ends.