DAVAO CITY- The Mayor of Santo Tomas town in Davao del Norte Ernesto Evangelista expressed willingness to undergo a drug test voluntarily to show that he is further committed to a drug-free governance.
The statement of Evangelista came after the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Guillermo Eleazar welcomed the proposal to require both national and local candidates to undergo drug tests.
According to Mart Sambalud, the municipal information officer, Evangelista is ready to undergo a drug test using hair follicles instead of the usual urine so that Tomasino voters may know who among political aspirants are clean and serious in addressing the illegal drug problem in Santo Tomas.
โI am willing to undergo drug test using hair follicles. Kung mao kana ang gusto sa katawhan para atong mapakita na seryoso ug tinud-anay atong program batok illegal drugs sa Santo Tomas. Dili ko musupak ana. Dapat evidence-based ang atong ipairal karong panahuna dili lang kutob sa istorya. Kung seryoso ug hinlo ang magpapili karong 2022, kita mismo na magpapili ang magpakita na kita hinlo, dili kita durugista ug wala kita nalambigit sa illegal na druga,โ Evangelista said.
All presidential and vice-presidential aspirants also supported the proposal to ensure that the campaign against illegal drugs would be sustained as a major national government program despite criticisms.
Though drug-testing is not a requirement for aspiring candidates, Evangelista said this move would guide the Tomasino voters on who among the political aspirants are โclean and fit to serve in the government.โ
โBuhaton nato kini para mailhan ug magiyahan ang katawhang Tomasino sa umaabot na piniliay. Hagit nako kini sa mga incumbent ug mga political aspirant na magpa-drug test kitang tanan para atong mapakita kung unsa kita ka seryoso sa panggobyerno batok illegal na druga,โ Evangelista said.
When asked how to push through with this proposal, Evangelista said this would be done locally in a controlled space that the public can witness together with the different members of sectoral groups invited to participate.
Evangelista said that personnel from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Philippine National Police (PDEA), and members of the media would be invited to document and also witness the activity.
The local chief executive added that apart from himself, his slate would also volunteer to undergo a drug test to show their commitment and support to a drug-free governance.