Supervisor Manuel Advincula of the Oriental Negros Commission on Elections is advising prospective candidates to undergo the mandatory drug test before filing their certificates of candidacy.

He cited section 26 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, that requires all candidates for public office whether appointed or elected both in the national or local government to undergo drug tests. Advincula said that although failure to take the test is not a basis for Comelec to reject the candidacy of a person, "It will send a bad signal to the people."

It would be to the candidates' disadvantage if they will not undergo the drug test. The voters might think that they are positive for drugs and that is why they did not take the test, he added

Meanwhile, Advincula said all the candidates, who have, so far, filed their CoCs, had taken the test and were issued a clean bill of health.

As of Monday morning, those who filed their CoCs were independent candidate Raul Aniñon, who is running for congressman in the second district of the province; Lakas bet for representative of the third district Pryde Henry Teves, who is an incumbent member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Jocelyn Limkaichong, incumbent mayor of La Libertad, who is running for representative of the first district under Lakas-CMD; and Roel Gamo for board member for the third district of the province, a town councilor of Siaton, and is an ex-oficio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, being the president of the councilor's league.*RA

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