MANILA Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and his runningmate, Dr. Willie Ong, tested negative for use of shabu, cocaine, marijuana and other prohibited drugs.
The tandem submitted themselves to voluntary drug testing Thursday, November 25, at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that a presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections was using cocaine.
In an interview Thursday, Moreno said their voluntary submission to drug testing is their way of proving to the public that they are not using illegal drugs and are supporting Duterte’s war on drugs.
He stressed that PDEA is the proper agency to conduct the drug test.
“This is our one way of submitting ourselves to the agencies, proper agencies of government, at kami naman ay ito rin ay isang maliit naming kaparaanan ni Doc Willie na sinusuportahan ang war on drugs ng ating Pangulong Duterte bilang candidate,” he said.
“What is important there is a right, proper and effective agencies fighting against drugs. There is a scientific way of finding out whether a person is a user or not. If you submit yourself to PDEA, ito yung tama,” he added.
He said he supports Duterte’s war on drugs, stressing: “The people deserve to know (whether a candidate for election is using illegal drugs). They need to know. Isa sa mga sumisira sa ating lipunan ay ang druga. Susuportahan natin at iutuloy natin.”
If elected president in the May 2022 elections, Moreno said he will continue the Duterte administration’s fight against illegal drugs, adding he will go after syndicates, especially foreigners who are doing illegal drug business in the country.
“Banyagang drug lord? There is no place for them here in the Philippines,” he said.
On Wednesday, presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos submitted a negative drug test result to PDEA, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation.
He said he underwent the drug test on November 22.
Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, also underwent on November 22 voluntary drug testing at the PDEA office in Quezon City. They also both tested negative. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)