Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has urged Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to implement mandatory drug testing among senators and Senate employees.
In a letter dated August 17, Sotto made the call following “several news articles” reporting an alleged use of marijuana within the Senate premises, particularly on the fifth floor.
Sotto cited the Senate’s initiative in 2018, when it conducted random drug testing in compliance with Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1700653 on the Mandatory Random Drug Test for Public Officials and Employees, and Senate Policy Order 2018-002 (OSP) or the Revised Policy on Random Drug Testing in the Senate.
“Thus, to maintain a drug-free workplace, I am asking that a mandatory random drug testing be immediately conducted in the Senate in accordance with the pertinent policy order in place,” Sotto said.
He added that such a move would “ensure that the morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy shall be observed in the civil service.”
Earlier this week, the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) released an incident report identifying former actress and Padilla’s public officer for affairs, Nadia Montenegro, as the person seen inside the ladies’ restroom on the Senate’s fifth floor, where the alleged smell of marijuana was reported.
Montenegro has denied the allegation but admitted to carrying a vape in her bag, which she said could have been the source of the scent.
Meanwhile, Padilla's lawyer, Atty. Philip Jurado said on Friday that the recent news reports alleging marijuana use by Montenegro do not match the details of the incident report from the OSAA.
