Sotto wants mandatory drug testing in Senate

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III has urged the Senate to immediately conduct a mandatory random drug test for all officials and employees, following allegations of marijuana use within the chamber.

In a letter dated Aug. 17 addressed to Senate President Francis Escudero, Sotto cited the news reports last week on the supposed drug use of Sen. Robinhood Padilla’s staffer Nadia Montenegro on the fifth floor women’s restroom of the Senate building.

Sotto recalled that the Senate had previously carried out random testing in 2018 in line with Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1700653 mandating random drug tests for public officials and employees, and Senate Policy Order 2018-002.

“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 wrote, stressing that such a step would uphold morale, efficiency, integrity and accountability in public service.

Asked to comment, Escudero confirmed receiving Sotto’s letter and thanked him for the initiative. He said a more detailed response outlining measures already taken to address the controversy can be expected from his office.

Meanwhile, Montenegro has been asked to go on leave “effective immediately” while an investigation on her alleged marijuana use inside the Senate building is underway.

In a statement signed by Padilla’s chief of staff Rudolf Philip Jurado, the senator’s office said it conducted an “initial internal investigation” before the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms began its own probe.

Initial reports cited incidents where Senate employees allegedly smelled marijuana wafting out of the ladies toilet from where Montenegro had just emerged.

She denied smoking a joint, but she admitted to having a vape.

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

Today, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and his entire staff are set to undergo drug testing. Zubiri earlier urged fellow minority senators to take the same step.

For his part, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also called for random drug testing in the Senate to reinforce public trust.