In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Pulong
Duterte has issued a forceful challenge to all government officials, including President Ferdinand Bongbong
Marcos Jr., to undergo mandatory drug testing. This call to action comes directly on the heels of a shocking allegation made by the President's own sister, Senator Imee Marcos, who publicly claimed her brother uses illegal drugs.
A Renewed Call for Transparency
Representative Duterte emphasized that his demand for widespread drug screening is not a new or personal crusade. He revealed that for several years, he has been consistently urging all public servants to submit to a hair follicle test, which is considered one of the most reliable methods for detecting long-term substance use.
So in light of their own statements, our call becomes even stronger: All government officials should undergo drug testing. No exemptions. No special treatment,
Duterte stated emphatically on November 17, 2025.
He argued that any official who refuses to take the test raises immediate suspicion, questioning whether they are hiding something or protecting someone. Directly addressing the President, Duterte dared him to take the test if he has nothing to fear, stating that the Filipino people deserve honesty and that the nation should not be made to look foolish.
The Incendiary Allegation from Within
The political firestorm was ignited by Senator Imee Marcos during her speech at the Iglesia Ni Cristo's Rally for Transparency
at the Quirino Grandstand on November 17, 2025. In a stunning moment, she declared, I knew that he was doing drugs; I found out, and so did the family.
She further alleged that she was sometimes among those who would clean up
after the President's parties, alongside the Presidential Guard. These claims were swiftly denied by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, who labeled the accusations a desperate act
intended to sabotage the President.
A History of Accusations and Duterte's Own Test
This is not the first time President Marcos has faced such allegations. The issue has been a recurring theme in Philippine politics.
On January 28, 2024, former President Rodrigo Duterte (FPRRD) publicly accused Marcos of being a drug addict,
repeatedly using the colloquial term bangag.
He claimed that as mayor, he received a PDEA list containing Marcos's name, a claim the agency later denied, clarifying the President was never in their database.
In response, on October 23, 2024, Representative Paolo Duterte proactively took a Hair 7 Drug Panel Test
at the Hi-Precision Diagnostics Center in Mandaluyong City. The test, analyzed by Omega Laboratories, screened for a comprehensive range of substances including Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana. The results conclusively showed that none of the drugs were detected at or above the cutoff limits.
The controversy was further fueled by a viral video on July 22, 2024, which purported to show President Marcos sniffing a white powder. While the DND and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos called the video obviously fake,
it led to renewed calls for a drug test. Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez had also urged the President as early as April 16, 2024, to take a credible hair test to end the rumors.
The Stakes for the Nation
Amidst the flurry of claims and counterclaims, Paolo Duterte framed the issue as a matter of national integrity. He stressed that the lives and future of Filipino children are at stake, and the public has a right to know that their leaders are of sound mind and capacity, free from the influence of illegal substances.
With a key political family now fractured by the allegation, the demand for a drug test has transformed from a political jab into a central issue of public trust and governmental transparency. The pressure is now on Malacañang to respond to a challenge that questions the very integrity of the country's highest office.
