Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has formally asked Senate President Francis Escudero to implement mandatory random drug testing among senators and employees, following reports of alleged marijuana use inside the Senate premises.
In a letter to Escudero, Sotto stressed that the move was crucial to preserve a drug-free workplace and to uphold the values of “morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy” in the civil service. He recalled that the Senate previously carried out mandatory testing in 2018 under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission rules, and Senate policy.
The controversy surfaced after actress Nadia Montenegro, a member of Sen. Robin Padilla’s staff, was linked in media reports to the alleged incident. Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, said Montenegro was instructed to take a leave of absence and submit a written explanation within five days. He added that Padilla’s office had already launched its own inquiry prior to the Senate’s official investigation. Montenegro has denied the allegations.
While Sotto did not name any individuals in his request, he said his call was solely prompted by “news articles regarding an alleged use of marijuana within the Senate premises.”
Other senators have also voiced strong disapproval. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he and his entire team will undergo drug testing, emphasizing that the Senate must live up to its role as a lawmaking body. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, described the incident as “embarrassing” and insisted that any employee proven to have used drugs in the chamber should be dismissed.
