Duterte claims Philippine presidential candidate uses cocaine

Allegation against unidentified contender comes as leader criticizes Marcos

20211119  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte alleged Thursday that a candidate for next year's presidential election, whom he did not identify, is a cocaine user. (File photo by Ken Kobayashi)

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer

MANILA -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that a leading candidate for next year's presidential election is a cocaine user, an allegation that has triggered a guessing game in the country's politically charged atmosphere.

Duterte, known for his brutal war on drugs that has killed thousands of mostly small-time peddlers, did not name the candidate nor provide evidence to support his claim.

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