Duterte dares Marcos Jr.: Let’s take drug test

MANILA, Philippines — The word war between President Marcos and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte continues, with the former leader on Tuesday challenging his successor to undergo a drug test to once and for all prove that he is not a cocaine user.

According to Duterte, the drug test should be done in public.

“I dare him to have his blood tested in Rizal Park by an independent entity or doctor,” Duterte said. “I will do the same. I will also undergo a drug test.”

Duterte earlier claimed that Marcos is a “bangag” or stoned President who is into cocaine.

Marcos hit back at Duterte, saying the former president is addicted to the painkiller fentanyl, which may have affected his state of mind and behavior.

“I have nothing to prove. I am not the one who ran for public office. It is an accusation against him by the public,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City.

The former president said his use of fentanyl was prescribed by a doctor.

“I was given a fentanyl patch because I was in pain,” Duterte said. He said he had stopped using the drug seven or eight years ago.

“This fentanyl, Mr. President, was prescribed by a doctor. Your cocaine, does it have a prescription? Where do you get your supply?” Duterte said.

Duterte also accused Marcos of undergoing drug rehabilitation in Germany months before the campaign for the 2022 presidential elections started.

“May I ask the President, why did you go to Germany then?” he said. “He went there to undergo rehabilitation.”

Duterte also revealed that when he was president, Marcos wanted to become the secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

“I told him that I would not get him because he is an addict. I will not include him in my Cabinet,” he said.

He also threatened to release the narco list shown to him by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which supposedly included the name of Marcos.

“I will look for the list and I will release it as soon as I find it. It’s there, just wait,” Duterte said.

The PDEA has denied that Marcos was on any drug watchlist.

Malacañang was mum on Duterte’s fresh tirades against the President.

The Presidential Communications Office did not respond to reporters when asked to comment on Duterte’s challenge for the President to undergo a drug test.

But in an interview at the Villamor Air Base on Monday, Marcos laughed off Duterte’s allegation that he is a drug addict.

“I won’t even dignify that question,” Marcos told reporters before departing for a state visit to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte has distanced herself from the rift between Marcos and her father and brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian.

In a video statement released last night, Sara thanked the President for still trusting her to lead the Department of Education and for respecting her stand against Charter change through people’s initiative. –  Alexis Romero, Elizabeth Marcelo