Ace Barbers eyes mandatory drug testing for celebrities after Dominic Roco’s arrest

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers proposed the implementation of mandatory drug testing on artists idolized by the public, especially the youth.

Barbers is the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs in Congress.

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The lawmaker’s proposal follows the arrest of actor Dominic Roco on October 1 in a buy-bust operation.

Barbers told the ABS-CBN News Online report this Sunday, October 2, “Actors, actresses, and other movie celebrities should all be drug-free because they are public figures that are being idolized by the public, particularly the Filipino youth.

“They would be setting bad examples if they would be involved in the use of drugs, or worse selling drugs.”

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He added that even though he knows that most celebrities are drug-free, there are still a few of them who lose their way.

“Alam ko na halos lahat ng ating mga artista ay drug-free o malinis sa usapin ng illegal na droga. Pero meron din na naliligaw ng landas, na gumagamit o minsan nagtutulak pa ng illegal na droga,” he added.

Ace Barbers eyes mandatory drug testing for celebrities after Dominic Roco’s arrest

He also called on the leadership of the movie and TV industry to help fight illegal drugs in the country.

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“Kaya hinihiling at hinihikayat ko ang hanay ng ating movie industry na tumulong sa kampanya laban sa droga sa pamamagitan ng pag-police ng kanilang ranks at i-subject ang kanilang mga talents sa drug test bago bigyan ng pelikula,” he said.

Dominic Roco was caught by the police around 1:20 a.m. at dawn on Saturday, October 1, in a drug buy-bust operation in a townhouse in Don Antonio Heights in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

Fifteen grams of suspected shabu, estimated to be worth more than PHP102,000, were seized from the group of Roco and the main target, Reynaldo Sanchez. In comparison, PHP14,000 is the alleged value of the ten grams of marijuana confiscated.

Dominic Roco is the son of veteran actor Bembol Roco and is the twin of Felix Roco.

Violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 complaint will be filed by the Quezon City Police District against Dominic and the accused. They include three men and one woman.

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