Isabela vice mayor clears drug test after Remulla challenge
REINA MERCEDES, ISABELA—Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio of this town on Wednesday passed a P28,000 drug test at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, then joked that Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla should reimburse him for the expense.
“Jonvic, i-refund mo ko. Ang mahal ng drug test (Jonvic, refund me. The drug test is pricey),” Respicio said in a post showing his test results.
The test screened for cocaine, ecstasy, opiates, methamphetamine, tricyclic antidepressants, tetrahydrocannabinol, propoxyphene and benzodiazepines.
Respicio, a lawyer and accountant, also posted the hospital invoice showing the cost of the test.
Meanwhile, Remulla congratulated Respecio, saying he will shoulder the cost of the drug test.
“Congratulations. Now that it’s confirmed he’s not on shabu; totoo na talaga na natural ang sayad ng utak niya (he’s naturally not right in the head),” Remulla told the Inquirer in a Viber message on Wednesday.
Heated exchange
The vice mayor had drawn controversy after a furious, expletive-laden exchange with barangay officials during a municipal council session over the use of tobacco excise shares. The incident was recorded and later posted online.
Remulla had suggested that Respicio undergo a drug test after seeing the video.
“Boss Jonvic, eto na po ang results (Boss Jonvic, here are the results),” Respicio said in response.
He said the qualitative results would be released within 15 minutes, while the quantitative results would take two hours.
Respicio said he was willing to face any penalties, but challenged the government to hold accountable officials in his town whom he accused of corruption. —REPORTS FROM VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. AND ANDREA GREGORIO
