A candidate’s substance abuse is not ground for disqualification — Comelec

FILE PHOTO: Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — Substance abuse is not included among the grounds for disqualifying an aspirant for public office, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said on Friday.

Jimenez’s statement comes in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bombshell that a presidential aspirant uses cocaine.

READ: Duterte claims a presidential aspirant does cocaine

“Substance abuse is not among the disqualifications provided for by law,” Jimenez told reporters.

“In any case, the Comelec did try to require candidates to submit a negative drug test several elections ago,” Jimenez said, adding the move was disapproved by the Supreme Court.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, a political aspirant could only be disqualified if a competent authority declared a candidate insane or incompetent; or if a certain candidate has been sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or any offense that a candidate served a sentence of more than 18 months for, as well as for a crime involving moral turpitude.

It was senatorial aspirant and broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo who proposed making drug tests mandatory for political bets.

READ: Most presidential candidates support drug testing

Most presidential candidates are in favor of mandatory drug testing.

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