Nadia Montenegro quits Senate post, decries leak of marijuana use allegation
Metro Manila, Philippines - Actress Nadia Montenegro has resigned as Senator Robin Padilla’s staff, denying allegations of marijuana use inside the Senate and questioning the “premature” release of an incident report that named her.
“[E]ven with a heavy heart but for the sake of my mental health and the welfare of my children, I decided to TENDER MY RESIGNATION from my position in Senator Padilla's office effective IMMEDIATELY,” Montenegro stated in a letter dated August 15.
Padilla’s office released a copy of the resignation letter — which also included Montenegro’s explanation — on Monday, August 18.
In her five-page letter, Montenegro, who served as Padilla’s Political Affairs Officer, vehemently denied that she was the unnamed Senate employee mentioned in online articles on August 12 as being caught smoking marijuana in a Senate office restroom.
She acknowledged the contents of the incident report released by the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. She said that when she was confronted by legislative officer Victor Patelo, denied smoking marijuana in the restroom and even showed him her vape.
“Albeit this incident report was addressed to the Senate Sergeant at Arms ONLY and that there was no findings in the same incident report that I indeed smoked marijuana in the ladies' comfort room of the Senate, I wonder how this was maliciously shared to the media/social media thereby crucifying me in the eyes of the public sans due process of law,” Montenegro wrote.
“I was unfairly subjected to publicity trial, misjudgments, bashings and grave humiliation. My children unjustly became the subject of ridicule, calling them the children of a "drug addict,” she added.
She emphasized that her resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt, but rather as a gesture of respect to protect the Senate and Padilla’s office from further controversy.
“To prevent this baseless issue from growing any further, I would rather remove myself from the spotlight and allow the Senate to focus on its important work,” she said.
Montenegro expressed hope that her effort to clear the air would not detract Padilla from his initiatives and advocacies.
Mandatory drug testing pushed
On Monday, Padilla filed a bill requiring all elected and appointed government officials to undergo annual mandatory drug testing. His proposal also includes voluntary random drug testing for candidates seeking electoral posts.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri voluntarily took a drug test on Monday and encouraged his fellow senators to do the same. All 35 members of his staff also underwent testing. He stated that anyone who tests positive would be suspended for rehabilitation and dismissed if the treatment proves unsuccessful.
Earlier, Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III urged Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to reinstate the mandatory random drug testing policy for Senate employees.
Escudero said the policy is currently being finalized, taking into account concerns raised during its previous implementation under Sotto’s leadership — particularly regarding the selection process and confirmatory testing procedures.
