Trillanes dares Duterte again to undergo drug test after marijuana joke

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday reiterated his challenge to President Rodrigo Duterte to undergo drug test amid the President's joke that he is a marijuana user.

Trillanes said Duterte is desperately trying to contain the damage of his admission about his supposed marijuana use by dismissing it as a joke.

“Too late! Bistado na s’ya na isa rin pala siyang durugista. Now, if he really wants to clear himself, I am again calling on him to take a drug test,” the opposition senator said in a press statement.

Malacañang, in response, rebuffed Trillanes’ call and asked the senator to take the drug test instead.

“Hindi niya [Duterte] papatulan ‘yun. Nagtataka nga ako ba’t pinapatulan ninyo siya,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters.

“Look at this President. Malakas. Sinasabi naman niya sa atin kung anong deperensiya niya,” Panelo added.

In July, Trillanes said the Office of the President, including Duterte, should lead government agencies in subjecting its officials and personnel to undergo drug test. 

Trillanes himself underwent drug test at the Senate in July. The result showed he was negative in the use of five illegal substances.

In a speech last Monday, Duterte said he uses marijuana to keep himself awake amid his busy schedule. But interviewed by reporters later, he said he was only joking.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte was clearly joking as marijuana is not a stimulant. —Amita Legaspi and Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News