Senator Robin Padilla and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) opposed the proposal to make drug testing mandatory for actors.
In a statement on Monday, October 3, Padilla said while he fully supports the government’s programs against illegal drugs, he’s not in favor of mandatory drug testing for actors as it may violate their human rights.
“Tayo ay nakikiisa sa layuning maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan sa kapahamakan ng iligal na droga. Kasama na rito ang mga kapwa kong artista.
“Nguni’t hindi maaaring obligahin ang sinuman na magpa-drug test, dahil maaaring labag ito sa kanilang karapatang pantao,” he said.
Padilla’s statement came after Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers proposed that actors should undergo mandatory testing before engaging in a new project following the arrest of Kapuso actor Dominic Roco during a buy-bust operation on Saturday, October 1.
“Actors, actresses, and other movie celebrities should all be drug-free because they are public figures that are being idolized by the public, particularly the Filipino youth. They would be setting bad examples if they would be involved in the use of drugs, or worse selling drugs,” said Barbers.
Barbers also encouraged stakeholders in the movie industry to help in the government’s fight against illegal drugs by subjecting their talents to mandatory drug testing.
“Hinihiling at hinihikayat ko ang hanay ng ating movie industry na tumulong sa kampanya laban sa droga sa pamamagitan ng pag-police ng kanilang ranks at i-subject ang kanilang mga talents sa drug test bago bigyan ng pelikula,” Barbers added.
Meanwhile, apart from Padilla, FDCP chairperson Tirso Cruz III also opposed Barber’s proposal.
In a statement, Cruz said that while the fight against illegal drugs is everyone’s concern, it is discriminatory for the showbiz industry to be singled-out for mandatory drug testing.
“The fight against trafficking and use of illegal drugs should be everyone’s concern as law-abiding citizens of the country. We find it greatly discriminatory, however, that actors and performers from the entertainment industry are being singled out for drug testing.
“Worse, there is a strong move making producers shoulder the extra cost for all performers’ drug tests.
“This is outright unfair and burdensome coming from a pandemic that left so many of us out of work, and getting back on track remains a huge challenge,” he said.
Actor and Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND) president Rez Cortez also questioned the move to subject actors and performers to do mandatory drug testing.
In an interview with TV Patrol on Monday, October 3, Cortez asked why should the entire entertainment industry take the brunt of isolated drug cases of some actors.
“If there is no reasonable suspicion, why should the entire industry take the brunt of isolated cases?”
