MANILA — The chairman of the Commission on Elections welcomed Wednesday a proposal to let candidates in the 2025 elections undergo drug tests and attach the results in their certificates of candidacy.

This, even if drug tests are not required for election candidates after the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a provision in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act that mandated the same for all candidates for public office.

"Maganda ang proposal na 'yun. Pero wala din makakapigil sa isang kandidato kung talagang gusto niya maging transparent na maglagay ng certificate na hindi siya adik. Tatanggapin namin 'yun. Ibig sabihin, hindi man siya mandatory, walang makakapigil kung gusto niya magpatunay na hindi siya adik. Nasa kanya 'yan kung gusto niya gawin 'yun," Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said during Wednesday’s “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” news forum.

(It’s a good proposal. No one can actually control a candidate if he or she wants to be transparent and add a certification that he or she is not an addict. We will accept it. It’s not mandatory but no one can stop a candidate if he or she wants to prove that. It's up to the individual.)

Garcia was reacting to Davao City Congressman Paolo Duterte’s House Bill 10744, which seeks to amend Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In his proposed measure, Duterte encouraged candidates to undergo a drug test 90 days before the election day. The tests would examine a candidate's hair follicle and urine to determine if he or she uses illegal substances.

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The poll chief said he has no objection to the bill but questioned its potential implications. 

He said the Supreme Court already struck down mandatory drug tests for electoral candidates since the requirement is not included in the Constitution.

"Titingnan natin paano kung may batas na mago-obliga ngayon. Aalamin natin kung babangga sa decision nabanggit ko or sa provision ng Saligang Batas,” he added.

(Let’s see if there is a law that will oblige such submission, that will not contradict the Constitution.)

The Constitution requires aspirants to be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; must be 35 years old when election day comes; a registered voter; a resident of the Philippines for at least two years and must be able to read and write.

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