Rody Slams Bongbong, Calls Him Spoiled, Weak Leader; Presidential Bets Back Drug Testing

President Duterte has called presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. “spoiled” and a “weak leader” even as he rejected a possible alliance between his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Lakas-CMD and the parties the Chief Executive is affiliated with.

“No, I cannot because Marcos is there. I’m not impressed with him. He’s really a weak leader,” Duterte said in a recorded event aired Friday, Nov. 19, when he was asked by a local leader in Oriental Mindoro on possible alliances for the May 2022 polls.

Marcos, son and namesake of the late dictator, is Duterte-Carpio’s running mate.

“I do not malign anyone. He is really weak because he was a spoiled child, only son. Of course he can talk, he delivers English articulately because he studied in different places abroad. But if you say there is a crisis, he’s a weak leader and he has baggage,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

Marcos has yet to respond to Duterte's remarks.

In 2016, the President allowed the late dictator’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite heavy protests.

‘Name cocaine user’

Meanwhile, presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman dared Duterte to name the politician running for president whom he claimed is hooked on cocaine in his latest speech.

The labor leader said it is obvious Duterte knows the candidate’s drug supplier and should act to send the aspiring president to jail.

“For sure, Duterte knows who this candidate’s supplier who brings cocaine into the country is,” De Guzman said in a statement in Filipino. “That should be the focus – to arrest and stop it.”

Duterte on Thursday, Nov. 18, claimed that a presidential candidate coming from a wealthy family was a cocaine user and has a “weak” character.

“I can’t mention his name because I’m not there. But as a mayor then, I know that the rich in Davao, including him, used cocaine. It’s just cocaine. I didn’t say shabu, cocaine,” the President said.

De Guzman said that instead of spreading rumors about candidates, Duterte should name the person alluded to and have him arrested and placed under drug rehabilitation.

Drug test for candidates

Following Duterte’s remark, some presidential aspirants said they favor the conduct of drug testing for those running for public office.

“I am in favor of this. It should not be planned, it should be unannounced so no one will prepare for it,” Vice President Leni Robredo said in Filipino during an interview in Quezon on Friday, Nov. 19.

“How can we address illegal drugs if we do not have the moral authority to fight it? The people have to trust us… If we are to fight drugs, the first thing that we need is for the person calling the shots to be clean,” she added.

Asked about the President’s claim, Robredo said she is certain that Duterte was not referring to her.

She said a case should be filed if there is evidence to support such allegation.

“It should not be like this,” she said, in an apparent reference to the way Duterte publicized his allegation. “ I am sure the President has access to many information that most of us do not have access to. So he is the one who can show proof to support this.”

If it is up to him, presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao said that mandatory drug test must be required for anyone who wants to work in government, elective or appointed.  

“This will be a requirement in my administration without prejudice (to those rehabilitated and abandoned drug use for good. All of us have the right to build a better life),” Pacquiao said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He said he is not in a position to judge anyone on the issue, but is willing to undergo drug test “anytime and anywhere.”

Hair follicle test

Pacquiao enjoined his fellow candidates to undergo drug screening using the hair follicle test, which he said would be more accurate.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president under Partido Reporma, declined to comment on Duterte’s pronouncements “except to say, I am 1,000 percent sure PRRD was not referring to me.”

His running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III noted a provision he included in the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 requiring candidates to undergo drug tests. The provision, however, was shot down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Sotto said he and Lacson have always subjected themselves to drug tests in every election they participate in.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said he is willing to undergo drug tests “anytime, anywhere.”

“While this is not required by law, I’m willing to volunteer to undergo drug test. This is to show voters that those running are fit for public office,” he said in a statement, maintaining that it is the right of Filipinos to know if their candidate are drug users or not.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima said the motives of Duterte making such a disclosure, though incomplete was suspicious.

“Duterte says a presidential candidate is a cocaine addict, and he seems to have known it all along,” she said on Twitter.

“While unnamed, it’s pretty obvious who he’s referring to. If that’s the case, then it is that person you should have jailed, not me. Isn’t cocaine included in your drug war?” she added.

Marcos’ spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said in a radio interview that do not feel alluded to by Duterte’s remarks, adding that they have the highest respect and admiration to the President.

PDEA, PNP mum

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) kept mum on who Duterte referred to as a “presidential candidate using cocaine.”

The government chief’s anti-narcotics officer, PDEA Director-General Wilkins Villanueva, did not reply when asked if the information Duterte made public came from them.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon told reporters in a Viber message the agency has no comment on the issue.

The PNP did not issue a statement on the issue on the matter.

Still with PDP

Meanwhile, Duterte said he will remain a PDP- Laban member despite filing his candidacy for senator under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).

“I will not abandon the party, whose members helped me in my program of governance. I appreciate the loyalty and support of my partymates and will not waver in my commitment to them,” he said in a prepared speech.

He said he will continue to serve and be of service to PDP-Laban in his capacity as chairman and as member of the Council of Elders. “I will campaign as a PDP-Laban member and will do the same for our local candidates who have remained loyal to the party and its principles,” Duterte said.

“For those (asking) why we used the CONA (Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance) of our allied political party, PDDS, it can be summed up in two words, political strategy,” he said.

He said under the PDP-Laban constitution, the party can enter into alliances with other political parties to strengthen its chances of achieving victory in the 2022 national and local elections.

“The decision to use the CONA of PDDS is a strategic decision, which in due time will unfold on its own,” the President said.

“With zeal and passion, I will do my best to ensure that PDP-Laban will again be victorious in the forthcoming elections,” he said. – With Romina Cabrera, Janvic Mateo, Paolo Romero, Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong