Senators, staff undergo drug testing

MANILA, Philippines — Over 400 officials and employees of the Senate, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Gregorio Honasan, were subjected to random drug testing yesterday.

Sotto and Honasan subjected themselves to the drug testing after the weekly flag-raising ceremony at the Senate and both senators tested negative for any illegal substance.

“We must set the example as the Senate,” Sotto told the officials and employees after the flag-raising ceremony.

He later told reporters that he is urging his fellow senators to undergo the same.  

Senators Paolo Benigno Aguino IV, Loren Legarda, Antonio Trillanes and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also underwent drug testing. No results were released as of press time.

The procedure used was the “five-panel” drug test, which  is more sensitive and could detect other illegal substances, including party drugs, THC, PCP, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines.

Candidates for public office are not required to undergo drug testing, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in a 2008 ruling.

Sixty-eight of the 419 Senate employees and officials selected for testing failed to undergo the procedure.

Senate Secretary Myra Villarica said these personnel will be given 24 hours to have themselves tested at a Department of Health facility on East Avenue in Quezon City.