Marcos tested negative in 2021 cocaine test, says drug analyst

Drug examiners of St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City on Monday testified that the cocaine test taken by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in November 2021 indeed yielded negative results.

During the continuing hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, drug analyst Geresza Reyes, who signed the drug test report of Marcos back in 2021, said that the result of the test kit showed that Marcos was “negative” for cocaine.

“As to the analysis, may lumabas po na line. Sa drug test kit natin, meron do’n ‘yung control line at saka ‘yung line for the drug analyte. Doon sa resulta, may lalabas po talaga siya na line as negative,” Reyes said.

(As for the analysis, a line came out. In our drug test kit, there is the control line and then another line for the drug analyte. In the result, there was actually a line indicating it as negative.)

St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City drug testing laboratory head Dr. Cecilia Lim, who was also a signatory in the drug test report, explained why the result was already out 2 minutes and 54 seconds after the test was conducted.

“‘Yung 2 minutes and 54 seconds, kaya po talaga ng drug testing kit. Mabilis pong lumabas ‘yung resulta. ‘Yung sinasabi nila na 5 minutes, ‘yun ang maximum time na ina-allow namin na lumabas ‘yung line ng drug test. Kapag lumabas ang linya, hindi na mawawala ‘yun, negative na kayo,” the doctor said.

(The drug testing kit can provide results after 2 minutes and 54 seconds. The results do come out quickly. The 5-minute interval that other people are saying is just the maximum time we allow for the drug test line to come out. When the line comes out, it will not disappear, and would show that you are negative.)

She said that results could even come out as early as 40 to 50 seconds.

In November 2021, Marcos, who was then still a presidential aspirant, said he took a cocaine test and submitted the negative result to law enforcement agencies.

This came days after then President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that a presidential aspirant was using cocaine which is a prohibited substance. The ex-President did not name the presidential aspirant.

Lim, however, pointed out that Marcos only requested for him to be tested for cocaine, and no other types of prohibited drugs.

“‘Yun po ‘yung hiningi niya…nu'ng pasyente…si Marcos po,” she said.

(That was what the patient, Marcos, requested.)

This brought panel chair Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to question why the hospital only specifically tested him for cocaine, and not for other substances such as marijuana and shabu.

“Lahat ng tao dito sa Pilipinas, magpa-drug test, hindi naman nagtatanong na i-test niyo ko sa cocaine, i-test niyo ko sa shabu, i-test niyo ko sa marijuana. Wala. Pupunta ako sa inyo, magpa-drug test para ‘pag negative, dadalhin ko ‘yung dokumento, mag-a-apply ako ng trabaho,” the lawmaker said.

(Here in the Philippines, when we take a drug test, we don't ask that you only test me for cocaine, for shabu, or for marijuana. I will only go to you to take a drug test. If it is negative, I will bring the document, and I will apply for a job.)

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has been conducting a motu proprio investigation into the supposed leaked confidential documents linking the President to illegal drugs.

Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) intelligence officer Jonathan Morales had testified to preparing and signing the leaked document.

According to Morales, the supposed operation against Marcos in 2012 did not push through because it was stopped by former PDEA deputy director general Carlos Gadapan.

Morales claimed that Gadapan told him not to conduct the operations because former Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. allegedly ordered it.

After being invited to attend the hearing, Ochoa, however, failed again to attend and testify in the Senate probe on Monday after saying that he tested positive for COVID-19.

The committee secretary announced at the start of the hearing that Ochoa submitted a medical certificate regarding his condition.

Dela Rosa said that he will issue a subpoena against the former executive secretary, and even threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against him if he continued refraining from attending the hearing.

“We will be giving Atty. Paquito Ochoa one week to recover from COVID. We already sent to him two invitation letters. By this time, we will issue subpoena for his attendance before this Committee. Kung hindi siya mag-attend, baka warrant of arrest will be issued by the Senate kung hindi siya magpakita,” the senator said.

(If he won’t show himself, the Senate might issue a warrant of arrest against him.)

PDEA chief Moro Virgilio Lazo earlier told the Senate inquiry that the allegedly leaked document did not exist.

Marcos, himself, had also branded Morales as a ''professional liar,'' as the President compared him to a jukebox.

''Mahirap naman bigyan ng importansya 'yan. You know, this fellow is a professional liar at parang jukebox 'yan. Kung anong ihulog mo — basta maghulog ka ng pera — kahit anong kantang gusto mo, kakantahin niya. Kaya wala, wala... Walang saysay. Tingnan mo na lang ang kanyang record,'' Marcos said.

(It's hard to give him importance. You know, this fellow is a professional liar and is like a jukebox. So long as you put coins, he will sing whatever song you like. That's why it's nonsense ... just look at his track record.) —KG, GMA Integrated News