Malacañang said on Wednesday that Senator Robin Padilla’s proposed bill on mandatory drug testing for all elected and appointed government officials would only be a waste of his time and resources.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that Padilla's bill is unconstitutional. She explained that a 2008 Supreme Court ruling declared mandatory drug testing unconstitutional, citing violations of the right to privacy.
Castro added that only random drug testing is allowed under existing laws. She then urged Padilla to carefully study the grounds and premises of the bill before pushing for its passage.
“Baka magsayang lang po ng oras at pera, pondo si Senator Robin Padilla. Aralin po muna niya ang nais niyang gawing batas,” Castro said during the Malacañang press briefing.
The actor-turned-politician filed Senate Bill No. 1200, or the proposed Drug-Free Government Act, on Monday. The measure seeks to mandate annual drug testing for all public officials and require voluntary random drug testing for electoral candidates within 90 days before Election Day.
In his bill, Padilla argued that as government employees, all public officials should be subject to accountability measures, including mandatory random drug testing.
Meanwhile, on Monday, August 18, Senate President Francis Escudero, in a response letter to Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto, confirmed that a comprehensive review and revised guidelines for the new policy on mandatory random drug testing for public officials and employees are currently being finalized.
Escudero also assured his colleagues that a copy of the draft policy order on random drug testing will be made available at the soonest possible time for their review.
