THE Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) yesterday said that they are still gathering and validating information about an alleged cocaine-using presidential candidate as earlier revealed by President Duterte.

PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos has ordered the PNP-DEG headed by Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina to identify and monitor the subject of the presidential pronouncement.

“Inaatas ko na sa PDEG ang pag-siyasat at pagkalap ng sapat na impormasyon at ebidensya sa tinutukoy ng ating Presidente at kung ano man ang naging resulta ay handa ang PNP na ito’y isapubliko,” he said.

So far, presidential candidates Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno as well as Senate president-turned vice-presidential candidate Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III have all tested negative for substance abuse.

Carlos also maintained that it should be understood that the PNP can only start investigating candidates who will test positive for shabu, marijuana and other illegal drugs.

He said that Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 provides further police intervention in cases of confirmed drug use.

However, the law says that any citizen has the right to submit themselves to drug testing in any Department of Health (DOH)-accredited testing facilities outside of the PNP Crime Laboratory, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) or the National Bureau of Investigation.

PDEA spokesperson, Director Derrick Carreon explained that under RA 9165, any DOH-accredited testing facility can administer a drug test to a person. In the case of Marcos Jr., the DOH-accredited St. Luke’s Hospital certified that he is negative for cocaine.

Carreon said that the PDEA Laboratory Service accepted the copy of the negative drug test conducted on the former senator for their own reference. He also explained that although they don’t require them, individuals who have availed of the services of DOH-accredited drug testing centers outside of the PDEA and the PNP Crime Laboratory may submit their negative test result to them for record purposes only.

The PDEA spokesperson confirmed that St. Luke’s Hospital is a DOH-accredited drug testing facility. However, he said that the PDEA may also administer drug tests upon request by any party and upon approval by PDEA chair, Director General Wilkins Villanueva.

Under Section 15 of RA 9165 “a person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation in a government center for the first offense, subject to the provisions of the law.”

Carlos has encouraged all local and national candidates to submit themselves to a drug test and prove they have the moral ascendancy to win the people’s vote in May next year.

“Although the PNP acknowledges that no law mandates the candidate to undergo a drug test, but doing so will set an example to their fellow countrymen by proving that they aren’t users of illegal drugs,” the top cop said.

Carlos also emphasized that the progress of their action will depend upon the sufficiency of the evidence. However, he made it clear that there are rules being followed when it comes to arresting a person based on public disclosure,

“A person with a history of drug use may be arrested if there is an outstanding warrant of arrest in connection with the drug offense,” the PNP chief said.

“We are also checking on the different police stations and units if there are local candidates who are requesting the PNP for a drug test. None so far,” he added.

As of yesterday, the PNP is closely coordinating with political aspirants who want to take drug tests to ensure the public that they are not illegal drugs users, said PNP spokesperson, Colonel Roderick Augustus B. Alba.