Marcos on Duterte's claims: I think it's the fentanyl

“I think it’s the fentanyl.”

This was the response of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday on the accusation of former President Rodrigo Duterte that he was a drug addict.

Marcos said this before departing for Vietnam for a state visit.

"It is highly addictive and it has very serious side effects. And PRRD [President Rodrigo D. Duterte] has been taking the drug for a very long time now. When was the last time he told us that he was taking fentanyl? Mga (Around) five, six years ago? Something like that. After five, six years it has to affect him," Marcos told reporters.

Marcos said his predecessor's physicians should take care of him.

"Kaya palagay ko kaya nagkakaganyan. I hope his doctors take better care of him, hindi pinapabayaan itong mga nagiging problema," Marcos said.

(That's why he's like that, I think. I hope his doctors take better care of him, and not leave things like this as it may cause problems.)

Asked to categorically deny that he is involved in illegal drugs, Marcos laughed and said, "I won't even dignify the question."

Duterte accused Marcos on Sunday of being a drug addict and included in the drug watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during his term.

PDEA however on Monday issued a statement saying that Marcos was never on its drug watch list.

Duterte on Sunday also said that what happened to the President's father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., might happen to him as well. Marcos Sr. was ousted from power in 1986 by the EDSA People Power Revolution.

When he was still President, Duterte admitted using fentanyl, even comparing the feeling of using an entire fentanyl patch to being "in paradise."

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic.

It said fentanyl produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, pupillary constriction, and respiratory depression. —KG, GMA Integrated News