Moreno, Ong negative for cocaine, other drugs after voluntary testing

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25) — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Dr. Willie Ong, who are running in tandem for the country’s highest government posts, have tested negative for illegal drugs after voluntarily submitting themselves to drug tests.

“This is one way of submitting ourselves to the proper agencies of government...." said Moreno in a chance interview with reporters. "Ito rin ay isang maliit naming kaparaanan ni Doc Willie na sinusuportahan ang war on drugs ng ating Pangulong Duterte being a candidate (It is our own small way of showing support to Presidet Duterte’s war on drugs as candidates).”

Moreno and Ong went to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday morning to have their drug tests.

In his letter to PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva on Tuesday, the presidential aspirant requested to “immediately” test him for use of cocaine, shabu, marijuana, and all other illegal substances, "in the interest of public service in the highest order."

“Bakit ang ordinaryong tao nire-require natin i-test? Kapag sila’y suspected? Bakit kapag kandidato sa pagka-presidente, di na pwede sa PDEA? Parang double standard tayo,” Moreno told reporters.

[Translation: Why do we only require drug tests on ordinary people? Just because they are suspected? But why do we exempt a presidential candidate? It’s a double standard.]

If elected, Moreno said he will continue the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs and go after drug lords and syndicates.

Some presidential and vice-presidential aspirants have already undergone drug test folowing President Rodrigo Duterte's claim that one aspirant has been using cocaine.

Presidential hopeful and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. recently said that his drug test done at the St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City in Taguig City yielded a negative result.

Other presidential aspirants, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson, have also made public their negative drug test results.

The Philippine National Police is already looking into the allegations of President Duterte.