Robredo favors random drug test amid Duterte's cocaine user quip vs. unnamed presidentiable

Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday said she favors surprise drug test for candidates, after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that a presidential aspirant is a cocaine user.

"Dapat hindi nakaplano para hindi mapaghandaan [It should not be announced so the candidates would not be able to prepare for it]," she told reporters during an event in Quezon.

"Paano kasi natin malalabanan ang droga kung wala tayong moral authority para labanan ito [How can we fight drugs if we do not have the moral authority to do it]?" she added.

Duterte, in a speech Thursday night, did not name the cocaine-using candidate but issued a warning to voters.

Robredo urged Duterte to file a case against the candidate if he has evidence.

"Kung merong ebidensiya, kailangan ilabas. Kung merong ebidensiya, kailangang kasuhan [If there is evidence, he should show it and file charges]," she said.

"Ito ang nakasaad sa batas. Hindi ito dinaraan sa ganitong paraan (These measures are provided by law. This matter should not be settled this way)," Robredo added.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), for its part, said substance abuse is not a ground for an election candidate's disqualification.

In a statement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body had tried to make drug testing a requirement for candidates during the previous elections but the Supreme Court declared this unconstitutional. —KBK, GMA News