MANILA, Philippines — Only three out of 12 congressmen who pledged to undergo voluntary drug tests showed up for the examination Monday but solons said the poor attendance should not detract the objective of erasing the stigma of a member of the House convicted for the illegal use of narcotics.

Reps. Alfredo Benitez (NPC, Negros Occidental), Em Aglipay (Diwa Party-list) and Cesar Sarmiento (LP, Catanduanes) showed up for drug tests at the headquarters of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in a bid to lure the over 200 members of the Lower House to do the same in order to cleanse the Lower Chamber’s public image that may have been tarnished by the Hong Kong court conviction of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ronald Singson.

The three lawmakers said they would support any proposal that would make drug tests mandatory for all elective officials in the country, if not a requisite for running for public office.

Benitez admitted that a total 12 congressmen had originally decided to join the PDEA drug examinations but nine failed to show up due to various reasons.

Among those included in the list were Reps. Mercedes K. Alvarez (NPC, Negros Occidental) and Ben Evardone (LP, Eastern Samar) who were unable to make it due to cancelled flights to Manila. The rest – Reps. Jesus Crispin Remulla (NP, Cavite); JV Ejercito (PMP, San Juan); Mark Villar (NP, Las Piñas); Karlo Alexei Nograles (Lakas-Kampi, Davao City) and Mel Senen Sarmiento (LP, Western Samar) – were tied up by various official engagements.

Benitez said all were expected to show up at the PDEA Monday.

“We have not yet informed the House leadership about this but we will submit results to Speaker (Feliciano) Belmonte as soon as they are available,” Benitez said.

A close friend of Singson, Benitez said their decision to prove to the public that they are leading clean living was also borne out by their concern over the worsening narcotics problem in the country.

All neophyte lawmakers, the drug test volunteers said they would also propose to Belmonte the conduct of periodic drug test for all House members.

They said there is no law requiring them to undergo drug testing now, but added other members of Congress should also subject themselves to voluntary drug testing in order to prove that the country's lawmakers are into clean living. (With Czarina Nicole O. Ong)