Lawmakers, including Pacquiao, ready to undergo drug test

Lawmakers, including Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, on Wednesday expressed willingness to undergo drug test following the arrest and detention of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ronald Singson in Hong Kong over drug charges. “Walang problema sa akin sa pag-drug test. Mas maganda para sa lahat. Ako naman dati akong mini-medical dahil boksingero ako (I’ve no problem with drug test. I’m used to that as a boxer)," said the seven-division world champion. Marikina City Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo said it is only proper for public officials, especially members of the House of Representatives, to undergo drug test. “Ang mga ordinaryong kawani ng gobyerno nagda-drug test. Dapat mauna kami. Dapat maging halimbawa ang mga mambabatas (If ordinary government employees undergo drug test, then I think we should also. Lawmakers should set good examples)," he said. Another legislator from Marikina, Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, echoed Quimbo’s statement. “I agree that legislators should undergo voluntary drug test to avoid the bar of public opinion. We should serve as role models who do not break the law against prohibited drugs," he said. Others who supported the idea were Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, Majority Leader and Mandalayong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet" Gonzales II, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny" Angara, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello. Gonzales said they have long been advocating for mandatory drug test for public officials, but the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. “We’ve been advocating this [mandatory drug test] before but the provision in Omnibus Election Code on mandatory drug test was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court because it requires an additional qualification not provided by the Constitution," he said. Angara said this is the reason why nobody can force lawmakers to undergo drug test. Singson, son of Ilocos Norte governor Chavit Singson, was arrested at the Customs Arrival Hall of Chek Lap Kok International Airport on July 11, where he yielded 26.1 grams of cocaine and two tablets of diazepam, more commonly known as the brand-name Valium. - KBK, GMANews.TV