Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers wants mandatory drug tests on actors and other celebrities who are being idolized by the public, particularly the youth, before they are commissioned to make movies and other related undertakings.
Barbers, chairperson of the House committee on dangerous drugs, reacted Sunday to the arrest of actor Dominic Roco, son of multi-awarded actor Bembol Roco, and four other companions by the Quezon City Police District in a buy-bust operation before dawn on Saturday in Quezon City.
“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,” he said.
“As far as I know, almost all our artists are drug-free. But there are some who lost their way using or selling illegal drugs,” Barbers added.
The suspects yielded P112,000 worth of shabu, P14,000 worth of dried marijuana, a weighing scale, and marked peso bills.
The younger Roco was arrested together with Reynaldo Sanchez, 45; Eugene Marvin Tolentino, 27; Renz Anthony Cruz, 33, and Dexie Diamante, 21.