The Philippine National Police on Sunday said it was looking into the claim of President Rodrigo Duterte that a presidential aspirant in the 2022 election was a cocaine user.
Newly-appointed police chief Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the PNP Drug Enforcement Group or PDEG has been tapped to investigate the President's claim.
"Once we get updates from the PDEG, we will assess whether it is an information na immediately kailan namin maihayag. Kung hindi po at kailangan gamitin sa aming anti-drug operation, we will let you know," Carlos told dzBB in an interview.
Duterte didn't name the presidential aspirant whom he accused of using cocaine.
"May kandidato tayo na nagko-cocaine yan, iyang mga anak ng mga mayaman. Kaya ako nagtaka ako, anong nagawa ng --- anong nagawa yung tao na yun? I’m just asking. Ano, anong, anong --- what contribution has he made pala sa Pilipinas?" he said.
The President's claims fueled speculations on social media, with "Bongbong Narcos" trending on Twitter Philippines on Friday.
Bongbong Marcos, who is running for president alongside Duterte's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, had previously denied drug use. He also said during his vice presidential campaign in 2016 that he was willing to take a drug test.
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