SENATE Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has urged Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to implement a mandatory random drug testing in the Senate following reports on alleged marijuana use of a worker within its premises.
Sotto wrote a letter to Escudero in a bid to keep the Senate a drug-free workplace.
“Last August 13, 2025, several news articles circulated regarding an alleged use of marijuana within the Senate premises, particularly on the 5th floor,” he said.
“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. This will ensure that the morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and courtesy shall be observed in the civil service,” Sotto added.
Under Sotto’s leadership in the Senate in 2018, it conducted 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 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 of the Philippines.
Escudero earlier ordered an investigation over the alleged smoking of marijuana inside a restroom by a staff of Senator Robin Padilla.
In an incident report, the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms named former actress Nadia Montenegro as the person who was questioned by security personnel over alleged marijuana use.
The same report indicated that Montenegro denied smoking inside the ladies' room and using marijuana but admitted having a vape in her bag.
Montenegro was asked by Padilla’s office to take a leave of absence following the incident. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)