PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Aaron Aquino urged all television networks on Thursday, March 28, to conduct a surprise drug test among celebrities to weed out their companies of those who are using illegal drugs.
“‘Yung Channel 2, Channel 7, Channel 5, o kung ano mang channel, may mga artista ‘yan. Dapat gumawa na sila ng initiative na ‘yung artista nila eh ipa-drug test nila. It should be a mandatory and surprise drug test,” Aquino said in a television interview.
He said the drug testing among celebrities is similar to those conducted in different government agencies, particularly the PDEA and Philippine National Police (PNP). The drug test, he added, is part of their internal cleansing.
On March 27, Aquino said they are monitoring 11 female and 20 male television and movie personalities for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
He said majority of the 31 celebrities were young men who are into party drugs like ecstasy, while others are using marijuana and cocaine.
Aquino said the PDEA's list of celebrities allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade does not include yet that of the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.
He said the number of celebrities involved in illegal drugs may still increase to over 100 if all the lists will be combined.
Aquino said they will not hesitate to arrest TV personalities involved in the illegal narcotics trade. (SunStar Philippines)