EDITORIAL — Drug tests for government officials

A proposed bill filed by Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte mandates random drug tests on all elected and appointed government officials, including the president.

"Considering the initiatives towards the deterrence of drug use and abuse, exemptions or favors in the mandatory nature of random drug testing shall not extend to certain class privilege such as the elected and appointed officials, since it becomes imperative upon their own mandate that they shall lead the life of modesty and integrity," the lawmaker said in his explanatory note.

We have to say that the timing of this bill is suspect, what with the ongoing feud between the camp of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Dutertes with members of the latter repeatedly claiming the president has used or is using cocaine. It may not be an earnest attempt to weed out addicts in government at all, but just something to twit the administration and make it look bad.

However, this is also something many of us have been pushing for a while now. Yes, indeed. Why not mandatory drug tests for elected and appointed government officials?

Inhibitions and common sense fly out the window when judgment becomes impaired by drugs. An average Joe who becomes addled on drugs can already do a lot of damage. We have seen the worst of what they can do like public disturbance, assault, robbery, and even rape and murder.

Now just imagine how much more damage someone who is in government whose mind has been altered or whose behavior has been modified by constant drug use can do. They can make bad decisions or choices that negatively impact voters.

Of course it gets worse, in all likelihood they will make voters shoulder the financial burden of their addiction.

Indeed, why not random drug tests on all elected and appointed government officials? Even those applying for the lowliest of jobs are required a drug test by prospective employers. Why not require the same thing of those who govern and manage the country and make decisions that affect millions?