The PDEA was restricted by law to reveal the drug test results of political aspirants.
PDEA — The confidentiality law restricted the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from making public the drug test results of the political aspirants in the local or national elections.
On Thursday, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Arnold Carreon was apologetic for remaining mum in a telephone interview when repeatedly pressed for the drug test results of the political aspirants who were tested by the agency or any state-run laboratories.
When asked for a more expounded explanation, Carreon pointed out that it’s “upon the judgment of the political candidates” if they wished to reveal their drug test results or not.
“Hindi po pwede i-reveal ng PDEA Laboratory Service ang resulta (ng drug test) dahil confidential po ito,” Carreon said.
The PDEA spokesperson noted that it violated the agency’s procedures under ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System reiterating that only the political aspirants or the requesting political parties may make their pronouncements “if they wish to do so and not PDEA”.
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Carreon also begged off from identifying political aspirants who underwent drug tests, saying that it’s also covered by the agency’s procedural restrictions.
Presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and his running mate Dr. Willie Ong voluntarily took their drug tests at the PDEA national headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday morning.
Their drug tests yielded “negative” results for shabu, cocaine, and other illegal substances based on the PDEA Laboratory Service certification.
Also, the incumbent Manila mayor said that the entire Aksyon Demokratiko party will undergo voluntary drug tests vowing to continue the Duterte administration’s massive drive against illegal drugs with the focus on going after syndicates and drug lords.
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