Gordon dares all presidential bets to take psychiatric test

Presidential aspirant Richard Gordon on Wednesday dared all presidential candidates to undergo a psychiatric test to prove that they are mentally fit to lead the country. The Bagumbayan standard-bearer posed the challenge after a second bogus psychiatric test result surfaced on Tuesday, again with Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III as the test subject when he was in college.
"Kung ako lalaki, at talagang merong nangyari sa buhay ko na ako eh I had to get psychiatric examination, it is the height of responsibility na sabihin ko nagpa-psychiatric examination ako and sabihin mo I'm ok. Kung hindi naman, nagtatago ka [at] masama yun," he said. (If I were a man and something really happened in my life such that I had to get psychiatric examination, it is the height of responsibility for me to declare that I underwent psychiatric examination and say, for example, I’m ok. Otherwise, you’re just hiding something, and that’s bad.) The LP bet turned down Gordon’s challenge. "Pinalalaki pa po yung kwento nila. Alam mo 'yung sa sistema ng hustiya natin may tinatatawag na innocent until proven guilty (They are blowing up their own story. You know, in our system of justice, we have a principle called ‘innocent until proven guilty’)," Aquino said in a talk with reporters while on a campaign sortie in Calumpit, Bulacan. Aquino said he is not taking lightly the fake documents, adding that those behind the fabricated psychiatric test results could be sued. But he added that filing legal suits against those behind the forgery is not his priority right now. (See: Noynoy: People behind fake psych docs can be sued but...)
On Tuesday, former National Power Corp. (Napocor) president Guido Delgado furnished reporters copies of the unverified report, which indicated that Aquino suffered from depression and melancholia. (See: Ateneo priest denies conducting psych evaluation on Noynoy) Delgado claimed he is a supporter of Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., Aquino's rival in the May 10 polls. Villar admitted that Delgado is an NP volunteer but insisted that the party cannot dictate his actions as he was not a party member. (See: Villar admits Guido Delgado is ‘NP supporter’) Another fabricated medical document on Aquino's mental health has also surfaced earlier this month, leading to the ABS-CBN report exposing the document on April 8. (See: Noynoy: Psych claims smack of detractors’ desperation) Aquino has repeatedly denied undergoing any psychiatric evaluation, even as he accused Villar’s camp of masterminding the black propaganda. All other presidential candidates expressed readiness to undergo such test: Villar, JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), former President Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi), and independent candidates Jamby Madrigal and Nicanor Perlas.
De los Reyes echoed Gordon's opinion, saying that presidential aspirants should take such test on their own initiative. Perlas went even further, saying that aside from the person's mental health, an examination measuring the presidential candidates' intelligence should also be conducted. Teodoro, meanwhile, said he had already taken a psychiatric exam before he became National Defense secretary. Estrada, for his part, asked Gordon to take the exam first, after which he would follow. Re-electionist Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, running under NP, earlier defended Aquino against allegations about his mental health, saying the only reason behind the accusations is "sheer malice." "(The psychiatric test) should be voluntary on the part of the person being challenged and whether he wants to undergo into that but it should not be made a moral obligation as if he is shirking a duty," the senator said, as she explained the test is not a requirement for presidential candidates under the 1987 Constitution. (See: Miriam: Calls for Noynoy psycho test have no basis)—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV