SC urged to order Marcos drug test, release medical bulletins

The United People’s Initiative (UPI) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to direct President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to undergo a hair follicle drug test and disclose the results, citing ongoing public discourse and statements from Senator Imee Marcos.

In a 12-page petition filed on April 10, the UPI said the public has a constitutional right to be informed about the President’s health, particularly if his condition may affect his ability to perform official duties.

“The right to information is paramount. We, the people, as sovereign, have the right to assert transparency regarding the condition of officials who exercise executive power in our name,” the petition read.

“Secrecy in this context defeats democratic accountability and erodes the people’s ability to render informed judgment about governance,” it added.

For his part, Marcos on Monday brushed off rumors about his health as “pure shenanigans.” Facing the media, he performed a few jumping jacks and later ran within the Palace compound alongside reporters.

In its motion, the UPI cited alleged eyewitness accounts claiming that Marcos was seen at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

The group also referenced statements made by Senator Imee Marcos regarding the President’s health. She previously said the President fell ill because no one in Malacañang was purportedly taking care of him—a claim the Palace has since rejected.

“These statements, coming from a person with direct personal knowledge, constitute credible and material indicators that may trigger the constitutional requirement of disclosure in cases of serious illness,” the petition read.

Aside from the drug test, the group also asked the SC to direct the government to issue regular, accurate, and timely medical bulletins in the event of any condition that may affect the President’s capacity to govern.

Named respondents in the petition are the Office of the Executive Secretary, in its capacity as the information gatekeeper on the President’s health, as well as Communications Office Chief Dave Gomez.—MCG, GMA News