SENATE minority leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday urged the Senate leadership to conduct mandatory random drug testing in the chamber following reports of marijuana use on its premises.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Francis Escudero dated August 17, Sotto said drug testing must be done among employees, staff members, and other individuals working in the Senate “to maintain a drug free workplace.”
“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 pertinent policy order in place. This will ensure that the morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy shall be observed in civil service,” Sotto said.
He said he sent his letter to Escudero via e-mail and copy furnished the latter’s chief of staff.
Escudero, on Sunday, said he has received Sotto’s request letter.
“I thank him for his concern. Will respond by giving antecedent facts and the latest actions that have been taken regarding this matter. Will furnish the media with a copy of our reply,” Escudero said.
Sotto recalled that in 2018, the Senate conducted a mandatory random drug testing in accordance with RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022, Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1700653 dated March 17, 2017 or the Mandatory Random Drug Testing for Public Officials and Employees, and Senate Policy Order 2018-002 (Office of the Senate President) or the Revised Policy on Random Drug Testing in the Senate of the Philippines.
The minority leader made the request following media reports that a lady staff of Sen. Robin Padilla allegedly used marijuana while using the ladies’ comfort room at the fifth floor, where the offices of senators are located.
Last Thursday, Senate secretary Renato Bantug ordered the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) to investigate the news report.
OSAA chief Ma-o Aplasca said a report submitted by officer-on-case Victor Patelo showed that there were two instances – the first around the second week of July, and the second on August 12 – when an “unusual” scent/odor allegedly emanated from the ladies’ comfort room near the senators’ extension offices.
The incident report quoted Patelo as saying that on the first incident while he was manning the fifth floor lobby, he supposedly got a call from an unidentified male staff member reporting a “strong odor in their area.” Upon inspection, he said he did not see anyone smoking in the premises.
The second incident on August 12 occurred at around 5 p.m. Patelo said he was approached by a male staff member of Sen. Panfilo Lacson who reported of an unusual odor, again coming from the ladies’ comfort room near the senators’ extension offices.
“He (the staff member) claimed the odor resembled that of marijuana and stated that the only person in the area at the time was allegedly Nadia Montenegro,” the OSAA report said.
Montenegro was a former actress who is now working at the office of Padilla.
Patelo said he approached Montenegro when she walked past his post and asked her if she smoked weed inside the ladies’ room, which she denied.
Montenegro said she had a vape in her bag, “which she said could have produced the unusual scent.”
Lawyer Philip Jurado, Padilla’s chief of staff, said Montenegro has been asked to take a leave of absence effective August 13 and was given up to August 18 (today) to submit her written explanation regarding the incident “to provide her the opportunity to address and clarify the matters raised therein.”
Jurado said Montenegro is deemed on leave of absence until the investigation is terminated.
“The Office shall take the appropriate action upon review and evaluation of her submissions,” he added.
Senate deputy minority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri over the weekend said that he and his staff members will voluntarily submit to a random drug testing this week.
He said if any of his staff member will test positive for drug use, he or she will be afforded due process, and may be placed under preventive suspension and given a chance to undergo rehabilitation if they admit to using illegal drugs.
He said he will accept them back once they test negative for drug use after their rehabilitation.
Zubiri said he supports Sotto’s recommendation to revive the random drug testing for Senate employees even as urged the other senators to also submit themselves for drug testing.
