Comelec requires drug test for all candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is requiring candidates for senator and for local elective posts to attach to their certificate of candidacy (CoC) a certification showing they have undergone drug testing. In a press briefing, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos warned senatorial candidates that failure to comply with the requirement under the Dangerous Drugs Act, would mean the poll body would not give due course to the COC of the concerned candidates. Section 36 of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, mandates all candidates for elective positions, whether national or local, to undergo drug-testing. "We have issued a reminder to all candidates for senatorial position, to please comply with the provisions on the law on dangerous drugs that their certificate for candidacy should be accompanied by a certificate that they have undergone drug test," Abalos said. Abalos said the Comelec found out that many senatorial candidates failed to attach drug testing certificates to their COCs. "Our attention was called to the effect that many of the senatorial candidates failed to attach a certificate of having undergone a drug test and as per our resolution, we have given them up to March 29," Abalos said. "We are reminding them to do so otherwise their certificate of candidacy may not be given due course, they would be disqualified," he stressed. Abalos said that in the previous elections, candidates had gotten away with the requirement. This time, he said the Comelec itself has decided that they have to strictly enforce the rules. "This is the law, unless the law is amended. Look we don't want to have a law that is completely disregarded by everybody," Abalos said. The Comelec chairman said the poll body is ready to defend its position if some candidates would want to assail the legality of the drug testing requirement. "Let us put a test to it," Abalos said. Senate President Manuel Villar and Senator Panfilo Lacson, both running under the banner of the Genuine Opposition, welcomed the Comelec directive. "I have already submitted my certificate of drug test long ago," said Villar in an interview. Lacson, for his part, said he intends to submit his own certificate of drug test before the Comelec. "Even if there is some question as to the legality of such requirement, I would submit my certificate. Anyway, I am supposed to renew my driver's license soon and a drug test is required for the renewal so I might as well submit the same to the Comelec," Lacson said. Sources in the Comelec said that so far only Villar, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, Senator Ralph Recto, former Senator John Osmena, former Senator Nikki Coseteng, Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Rep.Alan Peter Cayetano, presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, and Gov. Vic Magsaysay submitted certificates of drug test.-GMANews.TV