Duterte ready for psych exam challenge, dares drug test for aspirants

Metro Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said she is ready to take a neuro-psychiatric test as criticisms of her being “unstable” hound her following controversial statements against the Marcos administration.

In a chance interview on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Duterte maintained she was not unstable or of unsound mind.

“I am nothing of unstable, unbecoming, unsound mind, I'm just unforgiving, unyielding, and unbowed,” she said on the sidelines of the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City.

She also took the challenge of taking a mental health test, even a televised one, saying it would already be the third time on her part. She also said she would undergo a drug test.

“Dalawang tests sakin kasi sinasabi nila unstable ako pero paningin ko naman sa kanila unstable din sila,” Duterte explained. “Kasi bakit aatake sila? Kapag sumagot ‘yong inaatake nila nagagalit sila tinatawag nilang unstable.”

[Translation: I will have two tests because they say I’m unstable. But in my view, they are also unstable. Why will they attack me? If the one being attacked answers back, they get mad and describe her as unstable.]

Duterte called on the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Psychiatric Association to set guidelines for the supposed psychiatric evaluations.

For the drug tests, Duterte wanted a hair follicle drug test done by an independent third-party.

Some lawmakers have criticized Duterte after making controversial statements berating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration.

Among those remarks: 1) She daydreamed of beheading the nation’s president and 2) She threatened to dig up the grave of his father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., from the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and throw the corpse into the West Philippine Sea.

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“Ang problema kasi ngayon sa mga politiko [The problem with politicians nowadays], they have never seen a politician who has nothing to lose. They have never seen a politician na IDGAF (I don’t give a f*ck),” she also said.

Duterte’s tirades have been more pronounced after the Uniteam alliance with Marcos fell.

Duterte has been known to claim that the House of Representatives is trying to make an impeachment case against her.

Dared: Testify under oath in fund misuse hearings

During the chance interview, Duterte was clear in challenging a group of lawmakers called “Young Guns,” who were vocal in criticizing the vice president.

She also urged her brother Paolo Duterte and PBA Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles to do the same. The two are among those seeking Davao City’s 1st district.

While there was no “necessity for them,” the “Young Guns” accepted Duterte’s challenge to undergo both procedures but made a counterchallenge.

In a statement, the group dared the “Vice President to testify under oath before the House Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged fund misuse within the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).”

House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun said they will “not allow her to divert the real issue, which is the allegations of fund misuse and graft and corruption against her.”

“This isn’t just about clearing our names from baseless accusations—it’s about accountability, which every public official must uphold,” Khonghun said.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also told Duterte to “step forward and answer the people’s questions” about budget utilization.

“The real test of leadership is accountability, and we hope she’s ready for that,” Adiong said.

House Minority Leader and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Jil Bongalon said “any individual found to have failed the drug test should face legal consequences under the Dangerous Drugs Act.”

The “Young Guns” also said Nograles accepted the challenge.

Former and sitting education officials have testified that they received envelopes under the leadership of then-DepEd secretary Duterte.

Duterte attended the first committee hearing but refused to take the oath. She then skipped the next meetings.