Psychiatric test for all bets urged
NP rides high on fake Noynoy ‘medical record’
THE Nacionalista Party yesterday challenged Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to undergo psychiatric test to dispel rumors of his alleged incapacity to govern the country.
NP senatorial candidate Adel Tamano extended the challenge to all presidential candidates, including NP standard-bearer Manny Villar, and all vice presidential and senatorial candidates.
He said he would subject himself to different tests this week.
Aquino said it is Villar who needs psychiatric help because he could accept the reality that Aquino’s supposed psychiatric records are fake.
"Pag pinilit ang napatunayang di totoo, kailangan yung ayaw matanggap ang reality na fake nga yan ang magpa-examine," he told a press conference.
Administration presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he is psychologically fit, having undergone a psychological test before he was confirmed defense secretary in 2007.
"That was a neuro-psychiatric test from the UP-PGH," he said.
But Teodoro said a psychological test is not a required for presidential aspirants.
"No literacy or other requirements shall be imposed on the right of suffrage. Nakalagay sa Saligang Batas iyan. Magbasa sila ng Saligang Batas," he said.
Last Thursday, ABS-CBN news network reported on a document that purportedly showed that Aquino suffered from depression in 1996.
The Ateneo de Manila University Psychology Department, from where document supposedly came, has disowned it, and its alleged author, Fr. Carmelo "Tito" Caluag, called the document "bogus."
Aquino said paying attention to Villar, who has been insisting that he (Aquino) take a psychiatric examination even after the document has been proven to be fake, would be "like telling the emperor how nice his clothes are when he is actually naked."
"Di ba tayo nakigaya sa sipsip na sabi sa emperor (sa The Emperor’s New Clothes) ‘ang ganda ng damit mo’ e wala (naman) siyang suot? At kung ginawa ko yan (patulan si Villar), ako magpapasundo na sa residente ni Cong. Boyet (Gonzales) sa NCMH (National Center for Mental Health)."
Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Villar was just trying to salvage his declining numbers in the surveys.
"Unless he is feigning ignorance, Villar does not seem to know the difference between fake and authentic documents," he said.
Aquino said the NP should admit that it is the source of the fabricated document which is part of its vilification campaign against him.
"Baka naman alam nila to begin with na fake yan. Bakit gusto tayong isama sa kanyang mundo na kailangan tratuhing totoo ang fake? Pasensyahan na lang, di ako makasang-ayon diyan," he said.
Aquino said that in desperation, Villar and his camp are spreading their black propaganda using the mass media.
Aquino appealed to the media to be more discriminate in reporting the news, noting how it could be used and manipulated to destroy a person.
He said most of the time, black propaganda that is being spread in text messages and in cyberspace are even being quoted as news source.
"Di ba basic yan to attribute the story to somebody?" he said, noting how the story on his supposed psychiatric records dominated the front pages while his reply was relegated to inside pages of newspapers.
The fabricated document was allegedly fed by the NP to ABS-CBN.
Tina Monzon-Palma, a seasoned broadcaster, informed Aquino in a press conference in Davao City last Friday that the fake psychiatric documents came from the NP, from which news anchor-reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon based her story.
The NP reiterated it was not the source of the fake document.
NP spokesman and senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla urged ABS-CBN network to reveal the source of the document.
He said the NP would expel and even file charges against any NP member who would be found to have supplied the document.
Susan "Toots" Ople, NP senatorial bet, said she would resign from the party if the ABS CBN could prove that the NP was the source of the said document.
Remulla and Martin Querubin, representing his detained father and NP senatorial bet Ariel, said the next president should not only be physically fit but should have a sound mind.
Remulla said all candidates from the NP are willing to go any medical, psychological or physical tests.
"Hindi birong pamunuan mo ang 120,000 sundalo, mahigit isang daang libong pulis, apat na trilyong halaga ng ekonomiya at samu’t saring responsibilidad bilang pangulo ng bansa," he said.
Querubin’s son said, "Although my Dad condemns fabrication of a fake document, one must undergo the same physical, medical, neurological and psychological test for anyone who wants to be a cadet in the PMA. The strict standard being imposed by PMA for incoming cadets should be the same standard to be used in the presidency."
Tamano said in case Aquino is proven to have a psychiatric problem, the NP would not file a disqualification case. He said they would leave it to the people to decide.
Tamano said he would undergo a drug test most likely today in Camp Crame.
"I have made arrangements with a psychological services corporation, I will be undergoing a psychological test. And I will also take fitness tests," he said.
"Kasi po maraming nagsasabi sa akin na mukhang nabaliw na ako sa pagpasok sa pulitika at gusto ko pong i-check talaga kung hindi pa ako naging baliw. And I will make all the results available to the media. Yung challenge na ito hindi ito boka lang. Gagawin ko ito talaga," he added.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidate Raul Lambino, a lawyer, said candidates should not be afraid to take the tests if they have nothing to hide.
"Kung papasok ka nga sa military or police kinakailangan ng psychiatric test, iyung commander-in-chief pa kaya, which is the highest official in the land and in the hierarchy of AFP. So I think it is voluntary na lang kasi di naman nire-require ng Constitution but if they are really have nothing to hide, I think they should submit themselves to the psychiatric test o psychological test…kung talagang normal sila," Lambino said.
Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said there is a "legitimate public interest" in the general health of candidates, especially those seeking the top office of the land.
But Olivar said people have a right to privacy on their medical and private personal records.
He called for an "elevated and civil" level of campaign to balance the public interest with the private rights of a candidate. He said those digging into personal records are insulting the intelligence of Filipino voters.
"These types of behaviors do not do credit to people who are aspiring to lead a country of 90 million people. It doesn’t do credit," he added.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., whose daughter Gwen in an NP senatorial candidate, said the mental fitness of candidates for president and vice president must not be withheld from the public because mental incapacity is a ground for removal from public office. – With Regina Bengco
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