The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has directed Malacañang to comment on a petition seeking to compel President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to undergo physical and mental examinations, including a hair follicle drug test, and to disclose the results to the public. Without giving due course to the petition, the Court ordered President Marcos and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to submit their comment within 10 days from receipt of notice. The petition for mandamus, filed on April 15, 2026 by former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, retired Gen. Virgilio Garcia, Juan Raña, and Raymundo Junia, asked the High Court to require the President to undergo medical and drug testing and publish the findings on his fitness for office. The petitioners cited constitutional provisions on public disclosure of the President’s health and the right to information, arguing that Marcos’ physical and mental condition is a matter of public concern, especially amid the state of national emergency declared on March 24, 2026 due to rising fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict. They also pointed to alleged public observations of the President’s condition, unverified reports of hospitalization, and past claims regarding possible drug use, while acknowledging but questioning his recent public display of physical activity in Malacañang. The group argued that the Constitution makes health disclosure a ministerial duty and asked the HIgh Court to compel the President to undergo medical evaluation and release a complete clinical report confirming his fitness to govern.
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