BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and WENDELL VIGILIA
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night dared President Marcos Jr. to undergo a drug test in public to prove he is not a drug addict.
Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, last night said she does not have to agree with everything that her father says, including his opinions against President Marcos and his administration.
She issued the statement amid calls from the opposition for her to resign after her father’s scathing remarks against the President.
“May respeto ako sa mga pananaw at opinion ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte pati na ng aking mga kapatid. Ngunit, katulad ng posisyon ko sa maraming mga isyu, hindi kailangan na sumasang-ayon ako sa lahat ng mga ito. Pinalaki ako ng aking mga magulang na may pagpapahalaga sa malayang pag-iisip at pagpapasya (I respect the views and opinions of former president Rodrigo Duterte and my brothers’ but like my position in many issues, I don’t have to agree to all of these. I was raised by my parents to value independent thinking and decision-making),” she said in a statement.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said drug testing “should always be suspicion-less and voluntary.”
She urged both Marcos and the former president to take a drug test.
“Para matapos na ang patutsadahan sa drug use ng dalawang lider ng bansa (To end the allegations and counter-allegations on drug use), I encourage them both to take the test,” she said.
The elder Duterte, in a press conference in Davao City, said the drug test, via a blood test, could be done by an independent doctor at the Luneta Park in Manila. He said he would even join the President.
“Set it in Luneta Park, magpakuha siya ng dugo doon (sa) independent entity or doctor.
Magpakuha rin ako, sige pati ako. Pakuha siya ng blood test (Set in in Luneta Park, have his blood drawn by an independent entity or doctor. I will do the same. Have his blood tested),” he said.
The former president on Sunday accused Marcos of being a drug addict and even described him as “bangag” (high on illegal drugs). This was during a prayer rally in Davao City held simultaneously with the kick-off rally of Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” program at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Manila.
He also said Marcos was included in a watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) — a claim that PDEA denied.
Marcos has laughed off the claim of his predecessor and Duterte’s pronouncements could be an effect of his long use of the pain killer fentanyl. He said fentanyl is highly addictive and has very serious side effects and Duterte’s doctors should take better care of him.
The former president, at the press conference, said the last time he took fentanyl was eight years ago after he had undergone surgery. He added that the pain killer was prescribed by his doctor.
He also said PDEA’s denial was expected. He said he would make the list public when he gets a copy of the document.
Duterte also alleged that Marcos, before the May 2022 presidential elections, visited a rehabilitation center in Germany. He said he is not saying that Marcos underwent drug rehabilitation but asked why he would visit the establishment.
He also said that Marcos had appointed a Cabinet official who used cocaine, but declined to name the person.
He likewise reiterated that President, Speaker Martin Romualdez and First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos are behind efforts to amend the Constitution.
The former president said the Charter change effort include plans to amend term limits of those in office.
During the campaign period for the 2022 presidential elections, Duterte said a candidate was using cocaine, is a “weak leader,” and gets his political influence from his father. He did not name Marcos whose father, Ferdinand, also served as president but was ousted in a “people power” revolt.
In November 2021 after Duterte’s allegations, Marcos said he has undergone a drug test and tested negative for illegal drugs. He also said he did not feel he was the one being “alluded to” by Duterte.
The former president has been on a warpath ever since news broke out that the administration may allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate him for the crime against humanity case he is facing for his bloody war on drugs.
The elder Duterte, who accused proponents of amending the Constitution of trying to perpetuate themselves in power, and has even threatened to move for the secession of Mindanao.
SERVICE
The Vice President said her vow to serve the public always comes first. She also said she would will prioritize the education of the youth and the nation’s peace.
She thanked the President “for his continued trust in me as Secretary of the Department of Education.” She said the President’s recognition of the role that the DepEd in pushing for the eight-point socioeconomic agenda of his administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign is important.
She also thanked Marcos Jr. for respecting her views, especially on the Charter change move which the Vice President vehemently opposes.
The President earlier said the alliance with the Vice President, who was his running mate under the UniTeam ticket in the 2022 national elections, remains strong despite his differences with her father.
Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines is asking government leaders to be more discerning in the public statements they are issuing.
“True leaders are supposedly more discerning in what they say or do,” he said.
“Whatever it is they do or say, it will always have some repercussions towards their constituents,” he added.
Florencio asked the Filipino faithful to offer their prayers for the warring political leaders.
“As a people and as a community, we can do something about this (conflict),” he said. — With Raymond Africa and Gerard Naval
