VP Sara open to do televised neuropsych exam

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said that she is willing to undergo a neuropsychiatric exam as soon as possible, which can be aired in public. 

“Wala akong problema doon. Game tayo [I have no problem with that, I’m game]. I will call that—neuropsychiatric exam,” she said in an ambush interview.

Duterte said that she will do the neuropsychiatric exam and a drug test, but dared all aspirants seeking a seat at the House of Representatives to also do the latter.

Vice President Sara Duterte says she is open to undergo a neuropsychiatric exam: “Wala akong problema doon. Game tayo. I will call that.” @gmanews pic.twitter.com/3PALtb4Kb9

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) October 22, 2024

“As a voter I demand, magpa-drug test sila. Kayong lahat mga kababayan, you demand na mag-drug test ang mga congressional candidate dahil kung unstable ako, sa paningin ko, unstable rin sila,” she added. 

(As a voter I demand that they take a drug test. My fellow citizens, you should also demand that the congressional candidates take a drug test because if I am unstable, in my eyes, they are also unstable.)

Duterte also took a swipe at the “young guns”---the young lawmakers in the House of Representatives who have been vocal of their stance against her, saying that they should also take a drug test.

She also challenged those running as representatives of Davao City’s first district, specifically her brother Paolo Duterte and Margarita Nograles to do the same. 

Nograles, in response, said that she is up to the vice president’s call. 

“Sure, no problem with me. I will schedule tests within the next few days,” she said in a message to members of the media. 

Duterte also called on the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Psychiatric [Association] to set the guidelines for the drug test.

“We need independent third party hair follicle testing. That’s why we are asking the help of the PMA, tulungan niyo kami [to help us] to set the guidelines,” she said. 

The vice president, who is also a lawyer, said it will be her third neuropsychiatric exam as she has already done it before for a court case and when she applied in the Public Attorney's Office. 

Earlier, Presidential son Sandro expressed disdain over Duterte's remarks against the Marcoses. 

''Forget that the objects of her derisions are dear to me, but I would also be remiss in my responsibility as an Ilocano representative if I didn't voice out my disdain at the abhorrent comments she so carelessly uttered," said Marcos. 

He said this should be an opportune time to remind ourselves that ''we mustn't take our mental health for granted and that above all else I sincerely hope she is okay.''

Sandro made the statement after the vice president said  she told the president’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, that she would dig up the body of their late father and throw it in the West Philippine Sea if the attacks against her don’t stop.

She also mentioned that she imagined cutting off the president’s head as she finds her relationship with him “toxic.”

Duterte, meanwhile denied allegations that she is unstable, unusual, unbecoming, unhinged, and has an unsound mind. 

“I’m not any of those. Ang problema kasi ngayon sa mga politiko [the problem today with politicians is], they have never seen a politician who has nothing to lose. They have never seen a politician na IDGAF (I don’t give a f*ck),” she said. 

Likewise, she also raised eyebrows to those who called her “desperate.” 

“Bakit naman ako desperada [why would I be desperate]? I am Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines. I am not going anywhere, so anong ikaka-desperada ko [what would I be desperate for]?”

—VAL, GMA Integrated News