MANILA, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte denied having a hand at the viral edited video supposedly of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. snorting cocaine at a gathering of Duterte-linked group Hakbang ng Maisug in the US.
“The Hakband ng Maisug national leadership has nothing to do with the release of the video footage showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the act of snorting cocaine in Maisug gatherings in Vancouver, Canada and Los Angeles, USA,” he said shortly after Marcos. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday.
“It was a decision made entirely by the Maisug volunteers in the said two places without the knowledge and imprimatur of the Maisug organizing committee,” he said.
The former state chief said the only way to put the issue down is for the President to submit to a legitimate hair follicle drug test.
“Even the ordinary man on the street knows that the best way to put the issue to rest is for President Marcos to undergo a hair follicle drug test,” Duterte said.
“The refusal of President Marcos to undergo the hair follicle drug test is the best proof not only of the video’s authenticity but worse, his drug addiction,” he said.
Cabinet officials have earlier discredited the accusations and claimed that the video was simply malicious and fake.
Duterte was a no show again at Marcos’ third SONA. His closest aide, Sen. Bong Go confirmed the former President’s absence hours ahead of the address.
“Nasa Davao eh,” he told reporters.
His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who earlier quitted the Marcos cabinet amid tensions between the two families, also skipped the SONA.
