Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia speaks on the accusations against him in a press conference in Manila on August 8, 2024. Garcia has been accused of accepting illegal funds through offshore accounts. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

COMELEC-GARCIA

Sherrie Ann Torres

ABS-CBN News

(It&rsquo;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&rsquo;s not mandatory but no one can stop a candidate if he or she wants to prove that. It&#39;s up to the individual.)Garcia was reacting to Davao City Congressman Paolo Duterte&rsquo;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&#39;s hair follicle and urine to determine if he or she uses illegal substances.<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/13/rep-duterte-files-bill-seeking-random-drug-tests-on-all-gov-t-officials-including-president-948" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rep. Duterte files bill seeking random drug tests on all gov&rsquo;t officials, including President</a><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/na_uoZKVxuk?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The poll chief said he has no objection to the bill but questioned its potential implications.&nbsp;He said the Supreme Court already struck down mandatory drug tests for electoral candidates since the requirement is not included in the Constitution.&quot;Titingnan natin paano kung may batas na mago-obliga ngayon. Aalamin natin kung babangga sa decision nabanggit ko or sa provision ng Saligang Batas,&rdquo; he added.(Let&rsquo;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.<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/16/comelec-asks-voters-to-thoroughly-screen-candidates-following-guo-mess-1123">Comelec urges voters: Do deep dive on candidates following Guo mess</a><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/3/comelec-eyes-shorter-substitution-period-for-2025-candidates-2105">Comelec eyes shorter substitution period for 2025 candidates</a>

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.&quot;Maganda ang proposal na &#39;yun. Pero wala din makakapigil sa isang kandidato kung talagang gusto niya maging transparent na maglagay ng certificate na hindi siya adik. Tatanggapin namin &#39;yun. Ibig sabihin, hindi man siya mandatory, walang makakapigil kung gusto niya magpatunay na hindi siya adik. Nasa kanya &#39;yan kung gusto niya gawin &#39;yun,&quot; <span id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia&nbsp;said during Wednesday&rsquo;s &ldquo;Kapihan sa Manila Bay&rdquo; news forum.

Candidates in the 2025 elections can attach their personal drug test results in their certificates of candidacy, the poll chief said.

Candidates in the 2025 elections can attach their personal drug test results in their certificates of candidacy, the poll chief said.

Comelec chief OK with drug tests for 2025 poll bets | ABS-CBN News

News

News

Comelec chief OK with drug tests for 2025 poll bets

Comelec chief OK with drug tests for 2025 poll bets