Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang pushed back against renewed calls for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to undergo a hair follicle drug test, saying there is no clear basis or credible accuser to justify such a demand.
During a Palace press briefing on Thursday, April 10, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro questioned the source of the clamor for drug testing, particularly amid the resurfacing of a deepfake video of what seemed to be the president using illegal drugs.
“Sino po ba ang humihingi? [Who exactly is asking for this?]” Castro asked in response to a question from a journalist who cited reactions from the public on social media.
“Sino po in particular ang masasabi ninyo sa akin na humihingi ng ganitong klaseng pag-test? Isa ka ba sa humihingi?” Castro asked the journalist as she pressed for specifics.
[Translation: Who in particular can you say is asking for this kind of test? Are you one of them?]
The exchange became tense as Castro emphasized that no official or credible group had formally demanded the test.
“Ano po ba ang basehan para sa paghingi at i-demand sa Pangulo ang isang hair follicle test?” Castro said.
[Translation: What is the basis for requesting and demanding that the President undergo a hair follicle test?]
“Ito po ba ay may pagbibintang na siya ay diumanong gumagamit ng illegal na droga? Kung may pagbibintang – liliwanagin po natin – kung may pagbibintang sa Pangulo, iyong nagbibintang ang dapat na magpatunay kung may ginagamit man o wala.”
[Translation: Is this because of an accusation that he is allegedly using illegal drugs? Let’s be clear—if there is an accusation, it is the accuser who must provide proof of drug use or not.]
She warned against baseless accusations, saying the responsibility lies with the accuser.
“Kahit saan po na kaso, kung sino iyong nagbibintang, siya ang magbigay ng pruweba; hindi ninyo puwedeng sabihin na ito gumagamit, patunayan mong hindi. Hindi po iyon ang tamang logic!”
[Translation: In any case, it is the accuser who must present evidence; you can’t simply say someone is using drugs and ask them to prove they’re not. That’s not sound logic]
Castro ended by saying that without evidence, there is no right to demand such a test from the president.
Early this year, President Marcos slammed the challenge of his former executive secretary, Vic Rodriguez, urging him to undergo a hair follicle drug test.
In an interview with reporters, Marcos was asked about his reaction to Rodriguez’s dare in a recent interview.
“No, no. Why should I do that?,” said Marcos in response to Rodriguez’s challenge in January.
“What is a public trust, public office, public — has nothing to do with a follicle test,” he added.
Marcos also questioned Rodriguez’s credibility.
“He’s always had that weakness every time he — when he was still working for me. If you believe in what he was saying, why did he work for me?” he said.
Similar calls have been made by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.
Rodriguez resigned as executive secretary and presidential spokesperson in September 2022.
