PRESIDENTIAL aspirants on Friday, November 19, 2021, reacted to the claims of President Rodrigo Duterte that one of them is using cocaine.
Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said they do not feel alluded to by the pronouncement of the President.
“We don’t feel alluded to,” he said in a radio interview.
“We only have the highest respect, paggalang at pagkilala sa president (respect and honor for the president),” he added.
Marcos earlier said he is willing to undergo drug testing should the Commission on Elections (Comelec) requires it.
Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated her stand on conducting surprise drug tests on candidates.
"Dapat hindi nakaplano para hindi mapaghandaan (It should be a surprise so that no one prepares for it)," she said during an interview with repoters in Quezon.
"Paano kasi natin malalabanan ang droga kung wala tayong moral authority para labanan ito,” she added.
(How could we fight drugs if we do not have the moral authority to fight it.)
Robredo said Duterte should file charges against the person he was referring to instead of making such a pronouncement.
"Kung merong ebidensiya, kailangan ilabas. Kung merong ebidensiya, kailangang kasuhan. Ito ang nakasaad sa batas. Hindi ito dinaraan sa ganitong paraan,” she added.
(If he has evidence, it should be brought out. If he has evidence, he should file charges. It is in our law. It should not be brought up this way.)
Senator Panfilo Lacson refused to comment on Duterte’s statement, but he said he is certain he was not the person the President is referring to.
Meanwhile, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said if Duterte’s statement was true, the person who may be a future president of the country is a potential drug lord.
“That’s very dangerous,” Domagoso said.
In a statement, Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said this is the reason why mandatory drug tests should be required for those who want to work in the government, either elective or appointed.
“This will be a requirement in my administration without prejudice sa mga na-rehabilitate at talagang iniwan na ang bisyo. Lahat naman po ay may karapatan na magbagong buhay,” he said.
(This will be a requirement in my administration without prejudice to all those who have gone through rehabilitation and those who left this vice. Everyone has every right to change.)
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was earlier endorsed by Duterte, has yet to comment on the matter.
On Thursday evening, November 18, Duterte said one of the presidential aspirants was using cocaine.
READ: Duterte claims cocaine user among presidential aspirants https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1913544/Manila/Local-News/Duterte-claims-cocaine-user-among-presidential-aspirants
He said the person came from a rich family, has a “very weak” leadership character and was just banking on the namesake of his father.