Government officials should set an example and be the first ones to take drug tests, Senator Robin Padilla said Wednesday as he took the cudgels for his fellow actors and celebrities.
To underscore his point, the former movie star underwent drug testing at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City, which yielded negative results.
This was after Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers called for the drug testing of celebrities and actors as a prerequisite for their employment following the arrest of actor Dominic Roco and four others in a drug bust in Quezon City.
“Cong. Ace (Barbers) is my idol and he wants mandatory drug tests for artists. For my part, I suggest that the drug tests should be voluntary,” Padilla said.
He emphasized that the drug test is not just for artists but for government officials as well.
“We should take the lead and submit ourselves to drug tests to avoid speculations,” said the leading vote-getter among senators in the May 9 elections.
Padilla said his move also shows support to the law enforcement agencies in their fight against illegal drugs.
In a statement released by Padilla’s office, PDEA director-general Wilkins Villanueva said the agency is open to civilians, including actors, who want to undergo drug tests.
Padilla had said making drug tests mandatory for actors is tantamount to a violation of human rights.
“I am one in seeking to protect our fellow Filipinos from the ill effects of illegal drugs. This includes my fellow workers in the showbiz industry. However, we cannot oblige anyone to undergo a drug test, as it is tantamount to violating their human rights,” the former action star said in a previous statement.
Another ex-actor, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, said drug tests as a prerequisite for employment should not be limited to celebrities and actors and should not be discriminatory.
“Such proposed drug testing before any work engagements should be encompassing and should not prejudice certain sectors in our society, especially if we want to ensure a drug-free workplace,” he added.
For those in the government, Estrada said it is clearly stated in the law that they should not be involved with illegal drugs.
Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates officers and employees of public offices to undergo random drug testing.
The Civil Service Commission, in a 2017 resolution, likewise imposes random drug testing on all national government and local government units to ensure that government agencies remain drug-free.
“Let a justifiable policy prevail regarding this drug testing for the public and private sectors,” Estrada added.
