Ched Rick Gatchalian

Sen. Robinhood Padilla, chairperson of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, presides over his first ever meeting Monday, August 15, 2022, organizing the committee and hearing the legislative agenda of the Office of the Press Secretary. Padilla said the committee has jurisdiction over all matters relating to public information, mass communication and broadcast services; the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution regarding ownership and management of mass media and the advertising industry, the development and promotion of information technology; and all matters relating to the artistic standards and quality of the motion picture and television industry. Adrian Luciano, Senate PRIB

Article (news)

Palace says Padilla should study more about his mandatory drug test proposal: 'Labag sa batas'

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Malacañang on Wednesday urged caution on a proposal by Sen. Robinhood Padilla to require the President and all elected and appointed government officials to take a yearly mandatory drug testing, saying this is not allowed by law.According to Padilla’s office, Senate Bill 1200 or the Drug-Free Government Bill intends to “ensure early detection and to foster a culture of responsibility.”Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reminded the lawmaker of a 2008 Supreme Court ruling which declared as unconstitutional a 2004 Comelec Resolution requiring all national and local candidates of the 2004 elections to undergo mandatory drug testing.“Sana po ay nabasa niya na po ang desisyon ng korte patungkol po dito. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 kung saan hindi po hinahayaan at ito ay labag sa konstitusyon at sa privacy kung lahat po. ‘Pag sinabi po nating lahat, universal testing – mandatory universal or universal testing,” Castro said.(I wish he had read the court&#x27;s decision in Social Justice Society v. Dangerous Drugs Board, 2008. The court said mandatory testing violates the Constitution and citizens&#x27; privacy. That pertains to mandator universal testing)The Supreme Court ruled then that making drug testing mandatory &quot;infringed the constitutional provision defining the qualification or eligibility requirements for one aspiring to run for and serve as senator&quot; by imposing additional requirements that neither Congress nor the Commission on Elections could do.The law allows mandatory random testing. Private sector employers are allowed to require drug testing as part of their pre-employment processes.<div><a href="http://“So, ang nais po ni Senator Robin Padilla ay lahat ng public officers? Sana po ay nabasa niya na po ang desisyon ng korte patungkol po dito. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 kung saan hindi po hinahayaan at ito ay labag sa konstitusyon at sa privacy kung lahat po. ‘Pag sinabi po nating lahat, universal testing – mandatory universal or universal testing,” Castro said.">Padilla’s office says bill requiring drug tests for gov&#x27;t officials not a &#x27;gimmick&#x27;</a></div><div> </div><div>&#x27;NOT A GIMMICK&#x27; </div>Padilla&#x27;s chief of staff Rudolf Philip Jurado, a lawyer, said the measure is meant to ensure that “public servants, especially those in the high echelons of authority, must themselves possess the moral ascendancy to execute and implement the laws. The bill comes after Padilla&#x27;s political officer Nadia Montenegro was named in an incident report dated August 13 about two alleged instances of the supposed smell of marijuana being observed from a restroom at the Senate.Montenegro has denied involvement and has resigned from her position, stressing however that that did not mean she was guilty.&quot;Far from being a gimmick, this measure is a practical step to protect health and safety, but most of all, public trust,” Jurado also said.Castro on Wednesday stressed that only random drug testing is allowed.“So, baka magsayang lang po ng oras at pera o pondo si Senator Robin Padilla. Aralin po muna niya po ang nais niyang gawing batas.”(Sen. Robin Padilla may just be wasting money. He should study the proposal he wants turned into law)Asked to clarify whether the Palace is not in favor of the proposed mandatory drug testing, Castro responded she is not saying that the Marcos Jr. administration opposes it.“Iyan ay labag sa batas (That is against the law).”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/18/zubiri-staff-undergo-drug-testing-amid-allegations-of-marijuana-use-in-senate-1514">Zubiri, staff undergo drug testing amid allegations of marijuana use in Senate</a></div>

“Sana po ay nabasa niya na po ang desisyon ng korte patungkol po dito. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 kung saan hindi po hinahayaan at ito ay labag sa konstitusyon at sa privacy kung lahat po," Castro said.

“Sana po ay nabasa niya na po ang desisyon ng korte patungkol po dito. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 kung saan hindi po hinahayaan at ito ay labag sa konstitusyon at sa privacy kung lahat po," Castro said.

'Labag sa batas': Palace reminds Padilla of court decision vs mandatory drug testing

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

'Labag sa batas': Palace reminds Padilla of court decision vs mandatory drug testing

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 20, 2025 01:54 PM PHT

|

Updated August 20, 2025 02:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Malacanang

Claire Castro

Robin Padilla

Senate

Government

Mandatory drug testing

Drug testing

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.