Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte challenged Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday to undergo a hair follicle drug test, firing back at suggestions that he was “high” when he claimed the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
The word war began Wednesday evening after Duterte posted on social media, citing a “highly reliable source,” that the ICC had released warrants of arrest against Go and two former law enforcement officials.
Remulla dismissed the claim, suggesting that Duterte “may have been high” when he received the tip, and clarified that the government had received no such transmission through the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Taking offense at the Cabinet official’s remark, Duterte issued a sharp response on Facebook.
“Ako pa talaga ang sinabihan mong ‘high’ at ‘sabog,’ Secretary Jonvic Remulla? Ako? O baka nagkamali ka lang ng tinutumbok at ang gusto mo talagang sabihin ay iyong mga nasa Malakanyang?” Duterte said.
To settle the matter, the lawmaker dared the Interior Chief to take a drug test.
“Kung gusto mo talagang malaman kung sino ang ‘high’ at sino ang ‘sabog,’ simple lang naman ang solusyon. Magpa-hair follicle drug test tayo,” Duterte said.
Duterte expanded the challenge to include President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the President’s son.
“Sama mo na ang boss mo at asawa’t anak nya. Para isang testing na lang, tapos ang usapan,” he added.
The Davao representative went on to suggest that Remulla’s use of the term “sabog” (wasted/high) might better describe political excesses rather than substance use.
“Pero baka ibang sabog din ang tinutumbok mo Jonvic. Baka yung sabog sa kapangyarihan. Sabog sa korapsyon. Sabog sa kayabangan. Ug sabog sa pagtuo nga ang katawhan dili na kabalo motan-aw kung kinsa ang nagtrabaho ug kinsa ang nagpa-pogi lang sa kamera,” Duterte said.
He concluded by advising the Interior Secretary to look inward before accusing others of being out of their minds.
“Baka nandoon ang sagot sa mga tanong mo,” he stated.
Senator Go has been named by the ICC as an alleged co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity cases tied to the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Representative Duterte’s father, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands.
The ICC’s latest warrant was issued against former police chief and sitting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who went back into hiding shortly after a brief appearance at the Senate on May 11.