MANILA, Philippines — Reina Mercedes, Isabela Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio tested negative for illegal drugs after voluntarily undergoing screening following remarks by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla questioning his behavior during a heated municipal council session.

Respicio underwent the drug test at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City on Wednesday, October 7, shortly after Remulla publicly suggested that the local official be tested over his conduct in a viral video.

The controversy stemmed from a heated exchange between Respicio and several barangay officials during a Sangguniang Bayan session on October 5, where they were discussing issues surrounding funds collected from tobacco excise taxes.

In the viral footage, the vice mayor was seen raising his voice while confronting barangay officials, drawing criticism over his conduct during the proceedings.

Speaking to reporters at the Police Regional Office 4A in Laguna, Remulla questioned Respicio's behavior and said he wanted the vice mayor to undergo a drug test.

"Ipapa-drug test ko muna. Parang wala sa sarili eh," Remulla said.

The DILG chief also suggested that Respicio's actions were unusual for an elected official, prompting the public challenge.

Respicio responded by voluntarily undergoing what he described as an extensive drug screening to make the results available to the public.

In an interview with UNTV News and Rescue, the vice mayor explained that the examination included both qualitative and quantitative testing.

"Pinaka-extensive na drug test 'yung tinake ko. May qualitative and quantitative," Respicio said.

Results from his initial screening showed that Respicio tested negative for eight categories of substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), ecstasy, benzodiazepines, opiates, propoxyphene, and tricyclic antidepressants.

The negative findings were reflected in a laboratory report shared by the vice mayor. The result reported was from the initial qualitative screening.

Respicio also disclosed that he paid ₱28,011 for the drug screening and jokingly asked Remulla to reimburse the amount.

"Voluntary lang naman. Kung gusto niya, negative or positive, sige i-refund mo ako. Ang mahal eh," he said.

Following the release of the results, Remulla congratulated Respicio for testing negative but continued to criticize his behavior during the municipal council session.

"Now that it's confirmed that he's not on shabu, totoo na talaga na natural ang sayad ng utak niya," Remulla said in a message.

The remark followed his earlier criticism of the vice mayor's conduct, which the DILG chief described as unacceptable for a public official.

On Thursday, October 8, Remulla said he would obtain Respicio's GCash details and personally reimburse the cost of the drug test.

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Respicio subsequently posted a GCash QR code requesting payment of the ₱28,011 he had spent on the examination.

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Remulla later shared a screenshot of a GCash transaction showing the full amount sent to an account bearing Respicio's name.

"Eto na. Happy?" Remulla wrote in his social media post.

Respicio responded with a lighthearted caption, saying, "You make me happy, Jonvic."

The exchange followed Remulla's earlier challenge for the vice mayor to undergo drug testing after a video of his heated confrontation with barangay officials went viral.

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