National

SOTTO URGES MANDATORY DRUG TESTING IN SENATE

admin August 18, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III has urged the Senate leadership to conduct a mandatory random drug test for all officials and employees to maintain a drug-free workplace.

Sotto issued the proposal following a recent report of alleged marijuana use within the Senate premises.

In a letter to Senate President Francis Escudero dated Aug. 17, Sotto mentioned news articles published on August 13 on the use of cannabis on the fifth floor of the Senate.

News reports mentioned the suspected drug use of one of the staff members of Sen. Robinhood Padilla on the fifth floor women’s restroom of the Senate building.

The Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms had named a staff of Padilla in the incident report. The report said the person who came out from the ladies room where the alleged marijuana was smelled was Padilla’s staff member, actress Nadia Montenegro.

Montenegro denied smoking marijuana but admitted to having a vape.

She was given five days or until Aug. 19 to submit a written explanation in response to the allegations.

“To maintain a drug-free workplace, I am asking that a mandatory random testing be immediately conducted in the Senate in accordance with the pertinent policy order in place,” Sotto said.

“This will ensure that the morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and courtesy shall be observed in the civil service,” he added.

Sotto noted that in 2018, the Senate did a mandatory random drug testing in accordance with Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission Resolution 1700653 dated March 15, 2017 or the Mandatory Random Test for Public Officials and Employees, and Senate Policy Order 2018-002.

Meanwhile, Escudero acknowledged receiving Sotto’s letter and thanked the Senate Minority Leader for the initiative and concern.

Today, August 18, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and his entire staff are set to undergo drug testing.

Zubiri urged his colleagues to follow his lead, adding that the Senate must send a clear signal if it expects citizens to respect the law and trust its processes.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Friday reaffirmed his support for random drug testing for all senators, officials and employees of the Chamber, saying it is an important step in upholding the integrity of the institution.