Vic Rodriguez, Luke Espiritu clash over mandatory random drug testing for gov't officials

Former executive secretary and senatorial aspirant Vic Rodriguez said all elected and appointed government officials should undergo a mandatory drug testing, including President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

During the “Tanong ng Bayan: The GMA Senatorial Face Off 2025,” Rodriguez voted “yes” when the aspirants were asked if they support or not the proposal for government officials to go through mandatory random drug testing.

Rodriguez, who was a known ally of the President before, explained his answer, citing Article 11, Section 1, of the Philippine Constitution, which states that, “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

“Ako po ay isang ayon na sa mandatory drug testing sa lahat ng elected and appointed officials sa gobyerno bilang pagtugon sa Article 11, Section 1, of our Constitution that public office is a public trust at dapat lahat ay may accountable sa ating mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.

(I am in favor of mandatory drug testing for all elected and appointed government officials in response to Article 11, Section 1, of our Constitution that states that public office is a public trust and they must be accountable to the Filipino people.)

“Aking sinususug din ‘yung Dangerous Drugs Board Resolution No. 13, series of 2018 na nagpapahintulot na i-undergo sa drug test ang mga [elected officials],” he added.

(I am also supporting the Dangerous Drugs Board Resolution No. 13, series of 2018, which allows elected officials to undergo drug tests.)

In response, labor leader Atty. Luke Espiritu disapproved of the proposed measure requiring mandatory random drug testing among appointed and elected government officials.

He said the mandatory drug testing is a “tokhang mentality” of former President Rodrigo Duterte and that the government should address more pressing issues in the country, such as poverty, labor contractualization, and inflation.

“Kaya ‘yan lumalabas, dahil aminin na natin, nagbabanggaan si Marcos at si Duterte, at si Duterte, at si Duterte, pinaparatangan niya si Marcos na bangag," said Espiritu, who is the president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino.

(Let’s face it, this issue stemmed from the feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, and former President Rodrigo Duterte is claiming that Marcos is high on drugs.)

“Eh sawang-sawa na ang taong bayan sa bangayan ng Marcos at Duterte. Pag-usapan niyo yung tunay na isyu sa kahirapan. Hindi yung mga droga-droga na yan,” he added.

(The people are fed up with their feud. Let us talk about the issue of poverty, not drugs.)

In January 2024, Duterte called Marcos "bangag,” only to take it back the following month, saying he never accused Marcos of being into illegal drugs.

Rodrigo Duterte’s son, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, filed a bill last year requiring a mandatory random drug testing every six months of elected and appointed officials, with the president not exempted from those who may be selected.

Vice President Sara Duterte backed this proposal, saying the drug test will help ensure that government officials are in their right minds.

Rodriguez, who is now aligned with the Dutertes, argued that the issue on drugs is not about the Marcos-Duterte feud. He stressed that there should be a high standard for government officials because what they do concerns the nation.

“Bakit ang mga security guard bago ma-hire sa trabaho, kinakailangan sumailalim sa drug testing? Ang pagiging opisyal ng gobyerno, ikaw ay humihipo ng pera ng mamamayang Pilipino. Higit na mataas dapat ang standard natin sa mga naglilingkod sa gobyerno,” the former executive secretary said.

(Why are security guards required to undergo drug testing before being hired? Government officials have the power to use the money of the Filipino people. Our standard should be higher for those who serve the government.)

“Ang usaping droga ay hindi bangayan ng dalawang nagbabanggaang pamilya sa politika. Ito ay tunay na nangyayari’t nagaganap sa ating bansa. Kaya ako ay naninindigan na dapat sumailalim ang lahat ng opisyal ng pamahalaan at simulan natin sa tanggapan ng Pangulo,” he added.

(The drug issue is not an issue of the two clashing political families. This is really happening in our country. So I’m maintaining that all government officials should undergo the mandatory drug testing, and let's start this with the Office of the President.)

Call for Marcos

Rodriguez made a specific call to Marcos, urging him to undergo an “open, transparent, and credible” hair follicle drug test.

He stressed that every Filipino, especially the youth, has the right to know if they are being led by a person with the right mindset.

“Kaunting pagtatama lamang, ‘yung drug test na ipinakita [dati], that was during the campaign period. Sometime November of 2021. Doon namin ipinakita ‘yung negative drug test [ni Marcos]. Subalit nagpapatuloy ‘yung isyu ng paggamit ng droga ng mga matataas na opisyal ng ating pamahalaan,” he said.

(Just a clarification, Marcos’ negative drug test result was shown during the campaign period sometime in November of 2021. But the issue of drug use by high officials of our government still persisted from then.)

“Para matapos na ang istoryang ito sapagkat ito ay interes ng lahat ng Pilipino, sumailalim na sa isang open at transparent and credible hair follicle drug test ang lahat,” he continued.

(Everyone should undergo an open, transparent, and credible hair follicle drug test so that this issue can end. After all, it is in the interest of all Filipinos.)

Rodriguez clarified that the drug test taken by Marcos during the campaign period was not a  hair follicle test.

On Friday, Marcos Jr. rejected calls for him to undergo a hair follicle drug test, saying it has no connection with the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust.

"No, no. Why should I do that?... 'Public office is a public trust' has nothing to do with the follicle test. Wala namang koneksyon ang sinasabi niya [Whatever he is saying has no connection]," the President said in an ambush interview in Pasay City.

"He’s always had that weakness every time he --- when he was still working for me. If you believe in what he was saying, why did he work for me?" the President quipped, referring to Rodriguez.

Prior to his brief stint as executive secretary, Rodriguez also served as Marcos' campaign spokesperson and chief of staff.

But instead of drug testing, Espiritu proposed that government officials undergo a “competency test,” “integrity test,” “honesty test,” and “pro-masa test.” However, he did not go into details of its processes.

Espiritu also said Rodriguez is "proof" that the issue of illegal drugs is about the feud between Marcos and Duterte.

“Noong panahon na siya ay pro Marcos, siya ay drug test ang pinapalandakan, negative si Marcos. Ngayon na siya ay pro Duterte, gusto niya ngayon itesting si Marcos ng hair follicle test,” the labor leader said.

(During the time when he was pro-Marcos, he proudly said the president tested negative for illegal drugs but now he is pro-Duterte, he wants Marcos to undergo a hair follicle test.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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