Two rivals for House representative for Davao City’s First District in 2025 elections underwent hair follicle drug test in separate locations on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

Incumbent Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte underwent the drug test in Mandaluyong City while his rival, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Migs Nograles, had the test done at a laboratory clinic in Davao City.

Nograles subjected herself to a drug test after Duterte made the challenge.

Nograles said this was her first time to undergo a hair follicle drug test and she did it more for accountability and transparency.

“I don’t take that as a challenge… para sa accountability to, para sa transparency to… we are just doing what people want to see. I will do this regardless… to prove or show up for people to see,” Nograles said.

“Sayang kasi hindi ko pa siya nakikita dito sa Davao pero at least sabay din kami kahit hindi at the same area,” Nograles said of Duterte.

Nograles’ hair sample will be processed in the United States and the result may come out on November 18, 2024.

Earlier, Duterte challenged his rivals to undergo a hair follicle drug test to ensure that the future leaders of the city are not using illegal drugs.

He actually underwent the same hair follicle drug test months ago and made public the negative result in August 2024.

“Di naman siguro masama kung magpa-drug test ka diba, kung wala kang tinatago, pero kung may tinatago ka, it’s up to you kung pano mo iha-handle ang sarili mo sa harap ng constituents mo… syempre, kung hindi gumagamit ng droga, nasa maayos ang pag iisip mo,” Duterte said.

Nograles said the Hair Follicle Drug Test Bill authored by Duterte, which would require political candidates to undergo the test to ensure that elected officials are not drug users, should undergo further study.

“Pag nagma-mandate po kayo ng mga kandidato na wala sa Constitution or wala sa Election Code, baka po hindi pumasa… I cannot speak ahead na unconstitutional siya but may mga studies na might make it unconstitutional kaya kailangan natin mapakingnan ano ang gusto ng author,” Nograles said.