Actress Nadia Montenegro, who previously served as political affairs officer of Sen. Robin Padilla, has taken legal action following the controversy over allegations that she smoked inside the Senate premises.
On Wednesday morning, Montenegro filed a libel complaint in Caloocan against certain media outlets that reported on the issue. She was accompanied by her lawyer, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque. Later in the day, she was also scheduled to file separate cases for unjust vexation and violation of the Safe Spaces Act against a Senate security personnel at the Pasay Office of the Prosecutor.
The controversy began in August when an internal Senate security memorandum flagged reports of an “unusual odor” in a ladies’ restroom and mentioned Montenegro by name. She strongly denied allegations of smoking or using marijuana, insisting that she merely had a vape in her bag. “Hindi po ako nanigarilyo, lalo na ng marijuana. May vape po ako sa bag pero hindi ko po iyon ginamit,” she clarified in earlier interviews.
Following the incident, Sen. Padilla’s office placed her on leave and later accepted her resignation. The Senate also moved to reinforce stricter drug-testing rules for employees in response to the controversy.
