Members of the so-called “Young Guns” in the House of Representatives eagerly accepted Vice President Sara Duterte’s dare to undergo drug tests but on a condition that she would testify under oath in a congressional probe.
The lawmakers stressed that while they are up to the challenge as part of transparency and accountability, Duterte must also do her part by taking an oath before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability scrutinizing the alleged fund misuse of her and the Department of Education.
Duterte faced the first hearing of the panel on 18 September but refused to take oath and left the proceedings early before lawmakers could raise any questions.
“We are more than willing to take the drug test and psychiatric exam, as the Vice President suggested. But we will not allow her to divert the real issue, which is the allegations of fund misuse and graft and corruption against her,” Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said.
“We believe that transparency should go both ways. If she wants to challenge us, she should be ready to face the House Blue Ribbon Committee and testify under oath,” he asserted.
The lawmaker stressed the necessity of establishing their condition for a public office but emphasized that public officials should also be accountable for their acts.
La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega backed Khonghun and proposed that neutral third-party groups of medical experts must be the ones to administer the exams to ensure the process is free from any forms of irregularities and the like.
“We have nothing to hide. We’re ready to undergo these tests, but in the same breath, the Vice President should demonstrate her accountability by appearing before Congress to answer the allegations of fund misuse in her office. Only then will this challenge truly serve the public interest,” Ortega said.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said they will schedule the tests within the next few days.
“But more than that, we challenge the Vice President to step forward and answer the people’s questions about her office’s budget use. The real test of leadership is accountability, and we hope she’s ready for that,” Adiong remarked.
Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon, in the same vein, sees no problem with Duterte’s challenge, emphasizing that “any individual found to have failed the drug test should face legal consequences under the Dangerous Drugs Act.”
He, however, contended that the VP’s appearance before the House probe was still “essential for transparency and good governance, a cornerstone of their call to action.”
Duterte’s brother, Davao City Rep. Duterte has undergone a hair follicle test ahead of the 2025 mid-term polls and also encouraged his contender for the congressional seat, PBA Rep. Margarita Nograles to do the same.
Nograles said she’s game to undergo any tests and that she will schedule it “within the next few days.”
She also recommended that they could take an immediate drug test together.
The challenge follows Young Gun’s unsolicited advice to Duterte to take a psychological assessment following her recent tirades against the Marcoses, which they deemed unbecoming of her.
Last week, Duterte severely criticized how ineffective the administration of her running mate, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom she once imagined beheading.
The VP also threatened to exhume and dump the remains of Marcos’ late father and namesake into the West Philippine Sea should the supposed political attack against her and her family not stop.