PRESIDENTIAL son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said Wednesday night he knew a senator who was using cocaine, prompting Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV to challenge him to name names on Thursday.
Lacson said the vice mayor should name the senator because he had just put all 24 senators under suspicion.
Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte
Before he made his statement, the young Duterte got mad after militiaman Edgar Matobato, who claims to be a former member of the Davao Death Squad, accused him of ordering the killing of Cebu-based businessman Richard King who had been accused of smuggling rice and using illegal drugs.
He then pressed Matobato for evidence.
“Avoid talking too much and instead show me evidence, because if it’s my turn to accuse, then I know a senator who uses cocaine. I can expose that,”’ Paolo said.
He said he obtained his information from his and the senator’s common friend in Manila. He said he used to hang out with his friend who told him about the senator’s links to illegal drugs.
“We have a common friend who told me that this senator is using cocaine. I will not claim that he’s a supplier as something might happen to him. But, senator, we will soon meet face to face,” Paolo said
Trillanes said all the senators could be tested for drug use, but so should the vice mayor.
Senate President Aqulino Pimentel III joined in.
“Well, all I can say is that it’s not me,” he said in a text message to reporters.
Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said he had no idea who was being referred to by the young Duterte.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III proposed that they should all undergo a drug test “to dispel any suspicion on any member of the Senate.”
Sotto said he and Senator Gregorio Honasan II had already undergone tests.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he was ready to submit himself to a drug test, and Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said likewise.
COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publication’s right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section.
