Drug test for celebs proposed
ACTORS, actresses and other celebrities who are idolized by the public, particularly the youth, should undergo a drug test before they are commissioned to make movies and other related undertakings, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Sunday.
Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, made the call a day after actor Dominic Roco and four other companions were arrested by Quezon City Police District operatives in a buy-bust operation before dawn on Saturday in Quezon City.
“Actors, actresses and other movie celebrities should all be drug-free because they are public figures that are being idolized by the public, particularly the Filipino youth. They would be setting bad examples if they would be involved in the use of drugs, or worse selling drugs,” Barbers said.
Barbers said this is the reason why Filipino movie production outfits, directors and talent agents should require actors and actresses under their stable to undergo drug testing before engaging their professional services.
“Alam ko na halos lahat ng ating mga artista ay drug-free o malinis sa usapin ng illegal na droga. Pero meron din na naliligaw ng landas, na gumagamit o minsan nagtutulak pa ng illegal na droga,” he said.
“Kaya hinihiling at hinihikayat ko ang hanay ng ating movie industry na tumulong sa kampanya laban sa droga sa pamamagitan ng pag-police ng kanilang ranks at i-subject ang kanilang mga talents sa drug test bago bigyan ng pelikula,” he added.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug war that started in 2016, there were at least eight celebrities who were arrested for alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
