ELECTION WINNERS REMINDED OF DRUG TEST, EXPENSE REPORT

LESS than a week before their June 30 assumption into office, winning
candidates were reminded Thursday to file their certificates of drug test
and statements of expenditures and contributions before the Commission on
Elections.

The reminder came from Election Commissioner Resurreccion Borra who noted
that among those who have yet to submit these requirements included
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senators Aquilino Pimentel and
Jinggoy Estrada, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Ms Macapagal still has to file her statement of expenditures while the
others need to file their drug test documents.

According to Borra, the commission en banc had issued a resolution asking
concerned government agencies like the Senate, Congress and the Department
of Interior and Local Government for help in implementing the drug testing
requirement for the incoming officials.

He said that the case of Duterte would be handled by the DILG while those
of Pimentel and Estrada would be referred to the Senate.

The resolution, Borra said, was prompted by reports from the field that the
drug test requirement was being challenged.

"We don't want to be labelled as combative so we will seek help of the
other agencies ... We will monitor these and then bring this to the
attention of the public and invoke the provisions of the law," Borra said.

On the statement of campaign expenses, the commissioner said that Ms
Macapagal's lawyer had already sent word that her report would be
submitted. Martin P. Marfil