Rep. Palacios: I will take drug test this week

More than two months since his arrest on trafficking of methamphetamine or “ice” charges, Rep. Ray Palacios (Cov-Saipan) said he will undergo drug testing during the first week of 2012.

Palacios said the only thing that’s stopping him from taking the drug test is “lack of money” for the testing. He added that he would have liked to undergo drug testing but doesn’t have the extra $50 or so to do it.

“I am broke. My take home pay is only $212 after all deductions. But yes I will take the drug test [this] week,” Palacios told Saipan Tribune.

Superior Court associate judge David A. Wiseman on Thursday found Palacios in contempt for disobeying court orders requiring him to make monthly payments in connection with a consolidated 11-year-old civil case. Palacios has many financial obligations.

House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) asked House members to undergo drug testing in October to help remove suspicion in anyone’s mind about lawmakers, following Ray Palacios’ arrest on charges of drug trafficking and alleged drug use.

As of yesterday, only nine have submitted themselves to drug testing. While most results came back “negative,” other results have yet to be received. The nine included Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP).

Three more said they will undergo drug testing: Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan), and Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan).

Besides Cabrera and Delegate Sablan, the following have also undergone drug testing since October: Floor leader George Camacho (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan), Rep. Frank Dela Cruz (R-Saipan), Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan), and Rep. Fred Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan). The latter has yet to get his results back.

Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) said yesterday he will not undergo drug testing.

“Why should I need to prove to anybody that I’m not a drug addict, just because somebody was arrested on drug charges?” Tenorio asked.

Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) also said earlier he won’t undergo drug testing, pointing out that while he is advocating for the legalization of marijuana, he doesn’t use drugs.

Other House members either didn’t want to comment or couldn’t be reached for comment.