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Philippine presidential aspirant, Marcos Jr tested for cocaine
The son and namesake of the Philippines’ former dictator Ferdinand Marcos said Tuesday he took a cocaine test after President Rodrigo Duterte accused an unnamed presidential candidate of using the illegal drug.
Marcos Jr, who is among the frontrunners seeking to succeed Duterte in 2022, said in a statement he was tested Monday and had submitted the result to three police agencies.
He told a local broadcaster he had tested negative.
“I really don’t feel that I am the one being alluded to,” said Marcos Jr, popularly known as “Bongbong”.
“In spite of that, I believe it is my inherent duty as an aspiring public official to assure my fellow Filipinos that I am against illegal drugs. This is why I took a cocaine test yesterday.”
Duterte, who has waged a deadly war on drugs that has killed thousands of people, has not identified the candidate he claims uses cocaine.
At times he has referred to them using male pronouns.
“There’s a candidate who was using cocaine — you can ask the rich people,” Duterte said Monday.
“Why did I not arrest that person? You don’t know the rich, they go on a yacht or in the air, that’s where they snort.”
A leaked survey conducted in October by respected polling outfit Social Weather Stations reportedly showed Marcos Jr as the top preference for president with 47 percent of voter support.
He was followed by incumbent vice president and leading opposition candidate Leni Robredo (18 percent) and celebrity mayor Francisco Domagoso (13 percent).
Retired boxing champion and senator Manny Pacquiao was fourth with nine percent, followed by Senator Panfilo Lacson with five percent.
Lacson said Tuesday he and his vice presidential running mate, Senator Vicente Sotto, had voluntarily undergone “multi-drug testing” on Monday. He said they had “passed”.
Pacquiao, who has admitted using marijuana and crystal meth in his youth, said he supported mandatory drug testing for those seeking a government post.
“Although I’m not in a position to judge anyone on this issue, I am willing to undergo a drug test anytime and anywhere,” Pacquiao said Friday, suggesting a hair follicle test offered “better results”.
Domagoso on Friday also denied using drugs.
Duterte has been an ally of the controversial Marcos family, which had gone into exile in the United States after the patriarch’s humiliating downfall in 1986.
But recently Duterte has been publicly critical of Marcos Jr, describing him as a “weak leader… saddled with baggage”.
Sara Duterte, his daughter, had been widely expected to run for president, and potentially protect him from criminal charges in the Philippines and International Criminal Court prosecutors over his deadly drug war.
But she has filed her candidacy for vice president, a position which holds very little power, and formed an alliance with Marcos Jr.
In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately.
Sara told a rally of supporters Sunday “we need to protect our candidate. Let us protect BBM (‘Bongbong’ Marcos)”.
Duterte’s chosen successor is now his close aide Senator Christopher Go, who made a last-minute entry into the race on November 13.
Many analysts consider Go unlikely to win.
The Government of Ondo State has announced the death of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
In a statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, it was revealed that the late Oluwatuyi had been involved in a severe road accident on December 15, 2024, while traveling along the Ife-Ibadan Road.
Following the incident, he was hospitalised but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
“It is with profound sadness that the Government of Ondo State announces the passing of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), on January 4, 2025,” the statement read.
Describing the late politician as a dedicated public servant, Akinlosotu highlighted his significant contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State.
“Hon. Oluwatuyi was a committed public servant whose unwavering dedication to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation greatly impacted Ondo State. His loss leaves a void in our hearts and governance,” he said.
The Ondo State Government extended its heartfelt condolences to the Oluwatuyi family of Akure, as well as to his friends and associates.
“The Government of Ondo State extends its deepest condolences to the Oluwatuyi family, friends, and associates during this difficult time,” Akinlosotu added.
Further details regarding the burial arrangements of the late politician will be announced in due course.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dissolved the state’s Executive Council, marking the end of the tenure for commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The announcement was made during an executive council meeting held on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Governor Sule expressed his appreciation to the outgone members of the council for their dedication and contributions to the administration and the people of Nasarawa State.
He wished them success in their future endeavors.
“I sincerely thank you for your services to this administration and the people of our dear state. I wish you the very best in your future pursuits,” the governor stated.
To ensure a smooth transition, the governor directed the outgoing commissioners to hand over all government properties and the affairs of their respective ministries to the Permanent Secretaries in their ministries.
Similarly, the outgoing Secretary to the Government is instructed to transfer responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, and Special Services.
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will face extended periods of power outages beginning Monday, January 6, 2025, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced.
In a statement shared via its official X handle on Friday, AEDC attributed the outages to the relocation of key power infrastructure, including the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and the 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers, along the Outer Southern Expressway.
The company disclosed that the relocation, facilitated by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is scheduled to span from January 6 to January 31, 2025, with power interruptions particularly concentrated between January 6 and January 21.
“Please be informed that there will be power interruptions from January 6-21, 2025, due to FCDA relocating the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Expressway,” the AEDC statement read.
Areas expected to experience power outages during the relocation period, Lugbe and its environs, Airport Road, Kapwa, NNPC, Games Village, National Stadium, Eye Clinic, Indoor Complex, Christ Embassy Church, American International School, Spring Court, American Embassy Quarters, EFCC Headquarters, Coca-Cola premises, Railway facilities and Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Other parts are, Apo, Gudu, Gbazango, Kubwa, Bwari, Jahi, Jabi, Karu, Nyanya, Mararaba, Keffi, and among others.
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