Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Sunday stressed that, as stated by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s own spokesperson, a sitting president cannot be compelled to undergo a drug test.

Castro made the statement in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. uses illegal drugs and must submit to a test to prove otherwise.

“Did she order her father to take a drug test? Did she forget the spokesperson’s answer then, that the president cannot be ordered to take a drug test?” Castro said in Filipino.

“Anyway, former President Duterte has admitted to using marijuana and abusing fentanyl while he was president because of the good cloud-9 feeling,” she added.

Duterte earlier claimed that individuals who attended parties with members of the First Family had said they used illegal drugs.

“Everyone they’ve been with at their parties says they use drugs…,” she said, insisting that high-ranking officials cannot refuse drug tests.

“You can’t say no when you’re told to take a drug test, a neuropsychiatric exam… or any other exam related to your competency to lead… so when there’s a challenge like that, you should immediately submit yourself for a drug test…,” she said.

Castro criticized the Vice President for repeatedly lashing out at President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“President Marcos Jr. continues to work and pursue the corrupt… and unlike others who have shown signs of losing control, cursing, threatening lives and uncontrollable anger issues. That’s the one who behaves as if they are under the influence of illegal drugs,” she added.

On 17 November, Senator Imee Marcos claimed during an anti-corruption rally at Quirino Grandstand that her brother had been using illegal drugs, a habit she said developed over time.

Malacañang earlier stressed that Marcos will not give in to any provocation instigated by destabilizers and that the matter had been addressed long before he assumed the presidency.