Senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III, running mates for the 2022 national elections, tested negative for illegal drugs, according to the results from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
"The urine specimens collected from Vicente Sotto III and Panfilo Lacson do not contain any dangrou drug under RA 9165," the PDEA results read as posted by Sotto on Facebook.
Both senators tested negative for methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, and their metabolites, as well as THC metabolite in the above-stated specimens.
"Malinaw naman ang resulta ng aming drug test. NEGATIVE po sa illegal na droga using the Multi Drug One-step immunometric assay method," Sotto, who is running for vice president, said in a statement.
(The results of our drug test are clear. NEGATIVE on illegal drugs using the Multi Drug One-step immunometric assay method.)
"I firmly believe that leaders of our country should be drug-free. They should lead by example and by conviction. If they cannot do this, then how will the people follow, believe and obey them?" he added.
Both senators submitted themselves to a drug test after President Rodrigo Duterte hinted that a presidential aspirant was into cocaine.
"Dapat ang description - highest lider ng bansa, hindi high ang lider ng bansa," Lacson, who is running for president, said.
(The description should be – the highest leader in the country, not the leader of the country is high.)
