THE office of Sen. Robin Padilla on Friday clarified that Senate Bill (SB) 1200, which proposes mandatory drug testing for public officials, was not directed at any specific individual, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Allegations of drug use against Marcos have been a recurring topic of political discourse, fueled primarily by statements from former president Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.
In a statement, Padilla’s chief of staff, Rudolf Philip Jurado, affirmed the remarks made by Rep. Roland Valeriano, saying the senator’s proposal should not be misinterpreted as politically motivated or personally targeted., This news data comes from:http://pakl-to-wx-fv.jyxingfa.com
“Senator Padilla was not referring to anyone else when he filed SB 1200,” Jurado said. “In fact, in the three years since he became senator, he has never made personal remarks against the President about the issue of illegal drug use.”
Jurado further emphasized that Padilla has consistently refrained from attacking the president or engaging in controversies to advance any political agenda. He described the bill as part of the senator’s broader advocacy for accountability and ethical governance.
“This measure was never directed at the president or any particular official. Senator Padilla wants to institutionalize a broader, system-wide reform anchored on the public office being a public trust,” the statement read.
The filing of SB 1200 comes amid renewed national discourse on drug policy and accountability in public service.
Padilla’s office also defended his separate advocacy for the medicalization of cannabis, noting that the senator’s longstanding push for compassionate and science-based policy has been unfairly politicized.
Padilla: Drug testing bill not aimed at Marcos
“Alongside this measure, the senator is also pushing for the medicalization of cannabis for legitimate health purposes,” Jurado said. “This has been a product of years of research and hard work grounded in compassion and science in the last Congress.”
Padilla’s team urged the public and fellow lawmakers to allow the legislative process to proceed without politicizing policy proposals.
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submits changes
- Pagasa sees cyclone-free week across PH
- Drones take on Everest's garbage
- Tax bureau hunts down contractors over questionable flood control deals
- Heavy rain falls in parts of Southeast Asia after tropical storm blows into Vietnam
- Comelec upholds cancelation of Duterte Youth registration
- DOJ issues lookout order vs Atong Ang, others over missing cockfighters
- Preliminary report on Lisbon funicular accident expected
- Isko Moreno files charges against contractor over illegal demolition of sports complex in Manila
- Former president Duterte's health stable despite high blood sugar, says VP Sara
