Palace pushes back vs drug test dare on Marcos

Malacañang on Sunday clapped back at Vice President Sara Duterte’s challenge for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to take a hair follicle test to disprove allegations that he is hooked on illegal drugs.

In a statement, Undersecretary Attorney Claire Castro, Palace press officer, reminded how the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly responded to the challenge for him to take a drug test while he was in office.

“Nakalimutan ba niya ang sagot ng spokesperson noon na hindi pwedeng utusan ang Pangulo magpa-drug test?” Castro said.

(Has she (VP Sara) forgotten what the former Palace spokesperson’s response was back then--that you cannot command the President to take a drug test?)

Castro made the statement following VP Sara’s statement that government officials cannot reject requests for a drug test, neuropsychiatric tests, or any other tests that can check their competency to lead.

According to the Palace Press Officer, it was then-President Duterte who previously admitted to marijuana and fentanyl use.

“Umamin na pala si dating pangulong Duterte na nagma-marijuana at pag-abuso sa fentanyl habang siya ay presidente dahil sa masarap ang cloud 9 feeling…" she said.

(Former president Duterte had apparently previously admitted to marijuana use and fentanyl abuse while he was the president because he liked the cloud 9 feeling…

Castro pointed out that President Marcos Jr. was able to execute his responsibilities and chose to ignore the the accusations of drug use against him, most notably by his eldest sister.

“Ang Pangulong Marcos, Jr. ay patuloy na nagtatrabaho at tumutugis sa mga corrupt at hindi tulad ng iba na nakitaan ng senyales ng pagwawala, pagmumura, pagbabanta sa buhay, at mga uncontrollable anger issues,” she said.

(President Marcos Jr. continues to work and chase down corrupt officials, and is not like the others who are observed with signs of violence, cussing, threatening lives, and uncontrollable anger issues.)

 “Iyan ang nag-aasal lutang na parang nasa impluwensya ng pinagbabawal na gamot,” she added.

(That is the behavior of someone high that seems to be under the influence of illegal drugs.)

Meanwhile, Duterte has reiterated that she believed the First Family were drug users.

“Lahat ng mga nakasama nila sa mga parties nila nagsasabi na gumagamit sila ng droga,” she claimed.

(All of the people who have joined them at their parties have said that they used drugs.)

Renewed accusations of President Marcos’ alleged drug use came to light after the President's sister, Senator Imee Marcos spoke out at the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) rally in Luneta on Sunday that her brother, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their friends were hooked on illegal drugs.

She added that Marcos’ children, including Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, were also drug users, and that they also asked her and other members of the family to use illegal drugs.

Senator Marcos went on to dare the First Family to take a hair follicle drug test to counter her accusations, in exchange for a DNA test to dispel rumors regarding her parentage.

In a separate statement, Malacañang noted that President Marcos had been disappointed over Imee’s statements and dismissed her calls for a drug test.

“Matagal nang napatunayan na nag-negative ang Pangulo sa isang drug test. Sila pa ang nagbigay nito bago ang eleksiyon. Naniwala sila rito. Pati ang pamunuan ng St. Luke's nagbigay ng certificate dito, pinatunayan, cinonfirm ang kanilang test, evaluation,” Castro said.

(It has long been proven that the President tested negative in a drug test. They were the ones who gave it before the election. They believed it. Even the leadership of St. Luke's gave a certificate for it, proving and confirming their test or evaluation.)

“So ano pa? Para sirain ang Pangulo? Ano na naman ang susunod na iuutos nila sa Pangulo? Ang Pangulo talaga ang uutusan nila for this? Hindi naman uto-uto ang Pangulo?” she added. 

(So for what? To destroy the President? What will they order the President to do next? Did they actually order the President to do this? The President is not gullible.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News