3 lawmakers undergo voluntary drug tests

Three lawmakers on Monday underwent voluntary drug tests, supposedly to dispel “rumors" that drug users abound at the House of Representatives. Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento went to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in Quezon City to submit their urine samples for drug testing. “Maraming mga reports na dumarating sa amin, especially among neophyte congressmen, na may listahan ang PDEA ng mga drug users sa Kongreso. Ginawa namin ito upang ipakita sa taong-bayan na hindi totoo ‘yung mga ganoong tsismis," Benitez said in a phone interview with GMA News Online on Monday.

However, he clarified that their move had nothing to do with the conviction of their colleague, Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, for drug charges in Hong Kong. “Wala itong kinalaman kay Rep. Singson... Most of us were really willing to undergo drug testing even before that, and ngayon lang nagka-schedule," he said. Last month, Singson was convicted to a year and a half in prison by the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong for carrying drugs to the Chinese territory’s airport. Days after the conviction, Singson decided to resign from his post and is scheduled to be officially dropped from the lower chamber’s rolls in the coming days. Benitez likewise said his fellow congressmen should not wait for the House leadership to implement random drug tests among lawmakers but should submit themselves instead to voluntary testing. “It is up to the House to implement these rules, but I hope everyone is willing to undergo similar tests," he said. Even before Singson was sentenced to 18 months in jail, some House members have called for random drug tests within their ranks to show that they are setting a good example to the public. Under Rule IV, Section 15 of the current Congress, the House Speaker "in consultation with the Minority Leader, shall develop through the appropriate entity of the House a system for drug testing in the House of Representatives." The current House rules also state that the drug testing may cover "any member, officer or employee of the House," and "may be paid from applicable accounts of the House for official expenses." – VVP, GMA News