Bong Go and Leody De Guzman say they are ready to take a drug test

MANILA – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and union leader Leody De Guzman said on Monday they were ready to take a drug test, after President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that one of their colleagues contenders for the 2022 presidential election was in cocaine.

“Ako naman po is ready to test drugs at any time of the day, kung kakailanganin. Although Hindi compulsory. Pero, but just to prove that the Pilipino kung sino ang fit na mamuno sa ating bansa is ready to do magpa drug testing any time of day. Kahit saan po, ready for ako magpa drug test, “said Go, Duterte’s longtime former assistant.

(I am ready to be tested for drugs anytime, anywhere, if necessary to prove to Filipinos that they are truly fit to run the country.)

Go, whose presidential candidacy is backed by Duterte, released the statement during a visit to the Malasakit Center at Dr Jorge Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.

If the Electoral Commission (Comelec) makes it mandatory, De Guzman said he was ready to undergo a drug test.

However, he reminded the public that such a measure could violate the Constitution and human rights.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, another presidential candidate, and his running mate, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, underwent a voluntary drug test on Monday, which gave negative results for both.

De Guzman said he would not fall for the Lacson-Sotto tandem “gimmick”.

“Hindi kami mahuhulog sa klase de gimik na ginagawa ng tambalang Lacson-Sotto. Pero tulad ng sabi ko rin dati, obligatory kung gawing of Comelec ang drug test, susunod ako as kandidato,” De Guzman said.

(We will not fall into the trap of the Lacson-Sotto tandem. But as I said before, if Comelec makes the screening test compulsory, I will follow as a candidate.)

“Ngunit, nais ko silang paalalahanan a maaari itong paglabag sa konstitusyon na magbubukas with marami pang paglabag in one of the karapatang pantao,” he added.

(But, I want to remind them that it could be a violation of the Constitution that would open the door to many other human rights violations.)

Partido Lakas ng Masa presidential candidate @LeodyManggagawa reiterates that he will undergo a drug test if the Election Commission makes it compulsory, reminding the public that such a measure could violate the constitution and human rights. # Halalan2022 | @ABSCBNNews

– Josiah Antonio (@josiahvantonio) 22 November 2021

The Philippine National Police took action following Duterte’s revelation, instructing its anti-narcotics units to investigate.

“As a candidate, mahirap na manira tayo ng kapwa natin kandidato. Ang ibig ko sabihin, its outcome na yan, ang pinag-uusapan natin since the very beginning of his administration, kabuuan ng war on drugs. Tao na po ang humusga , umepekto is this the war on drugs? Same thing, Oo po, “Go said when asked about the presidential candidate allegedly a cocaine user.

(“As a candidate, it’s hard for me to say anything bad about other candidates. What I’m saying is, in relation to this issue, what we’ve been talking about since the very beginning of his administration, this is This is the whole war on drugs. So let’s ask people if it really works. For me, it is. “)

Go said he will continue and further intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and crime to ensure a better future for the next generation, while pledging to continue development in the region 12.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into thousands of killings in the administration’s war on drugs, which it says is a possible crime against humanity for murder.

However, the investigation was suspended by the ICC, as part of due process, at the request of the Philippine government, which reportedly said the country was conducting its own investigation.

De Guzman, meanwhile, visited fishermen and authorities in Barangay Bayog, Los Baños, Laguna on Sunday to discuss environmental issues that could affect the livelihoods of the community.

He said the fight for the environment is vital for fishing communities to support themselves.

“It can cause damage to the erosion of lupine and the spread of law in the country with erosion of the moon and the sea,” ABS News told ABS News.

(There really is a big impact when the environment is destroyed, like when forests are stripped because it causes soil erosion in the mountains and siltation of rivers downstream during heavy rains.)

Besides Go, De Guzman and Lacson, other 2022 presidential candidates include Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

Comelec is expected to publish the final list of candidates for May 9, 2022 in the coming weeks after removing those it deems harmful.