Sotto favors multi-drug test in PDEA, says clinics not reliable

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said it is best to take drug tests with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency since tests conducted in clinics are not reliable.

Sotto, a vice presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections, made the remark during his weekly virtual press conference with Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president.

"Ang ginawa namin, sinuguro ko na unquestionable 'yung sistemang ginamit namin, at ang unquestionable is pumunta ka sa PDEA. Doon mismo kasi may system kung papanong gagawin. Hindi pupwedeng basta drug testing center o kung saang clinic lang, hindi reliable yun,” Sotto said.

(What we did is we made sure that the system used for our drug test is unquetionable. Having said that, we went to PDEA. They have a system there that is very specific. It should not be done in mere drug testing centers or clinics because the tests there are not reliable.)

Sotto was referring to his voluntary drug test with Lacson at the PDEA on Monday. The two tested negative.

He noted that only methamphetamine hydrochloride and cannabis were the common substances that are being detected in tests done in most clinics.

"'Yun ang common drug testing kit nationwide. So ang pinakamaganda, dahil ito pinag-uusapan natin top two positions in the land, kailangan dito transparent. So ang pinakamaganda yung sa PDEA," he said.

(Those are the most common drug testing kits nationwide. Because we are talking about the top two positions in the land, we need to be transparent, and it is best if the test is done at PDEA.)

Sotto also emphasized the "meticulous" process which was being followed in PDEA.

Asked if the aspirants should redo their tests at PDEA, Sotto said: "We leave it up to them, it's up to them. It's up also for the people to believe the results, whether it's accurate or not."

The issue on drug use came to light after President Rodrigo Duterte warned voters about a presidential aspirant who is allegedly using cocaine.

Other presidential and vice presidential aspirants have also released their own drug test results after Lacson and Sotto took theirs at the PDEA. All tested negative.

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

Neuro test

Meanwhile, Lacson and Sotto said they are open to taking a neurological examination which was first floated by Senator Bong Go, another presidential aspirant.

"Cool kami d'yan. Ako dumaan na ako diyan [We're cool with that, I’ve been through that]," Lacson said, referring to his neurological examinations while at the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police.

For his part, Sotto said he underwent neurological examination when he applied for a permit to carry and license to own a gun. --KBK, GMA News