MANILA — The Supreme Court (Supreme Court of the Philippines) En Banc has directed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to respond to a petition seeking to compel the chief executive to undergo medical examinations.

In a session held April 22, the Court acted on a petition for mandamus filed by Pantaleon Alvarez and other petitioners, which asks the President to submit to physical and mental examinations, including a hair follicle drug test.

The petition also seeks to require the President to disclose and publish the results of such examinations, including medical and clinical findings on his fitness to perform the duties of the presidency.

The high court, however, said it acted on the petition “without necessarily giving due course” and ordered the respondents to file their comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.