Padilla’s office defends Montenegro, places her on leave

The office of Senator Robin Padilla has placed actress and staff member Nadia Montenegro on leave following allegations of marijuana use inside the Senate building.

Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, confirmed the decision in a statement Friday, saying the leave took effect on 13 August, the same day the office began its own internal inquiry ahead of a separate probe by the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

“On the same day, she was directed to take a leave of absence, effective immediately,” Jurado said, also clarifying that Montenegro had not resigned from her post.

The development comes after reports linked Montenegro to an incident in one of the Senate comfort rooms. Jurado dismissed these accounts as “fake news,” citing discrepancies between the OSAA incident report and media coverage. Montenegro has denied the allegations, saying she was using a vape — a violation of the Senate’s no-smoking policy — but not marijuana.

The controversy has prompted renewed calls for random drug testing among Senate officials and employees. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III both expressed support for reinstating the practice, with Villanueva adding he is willing to undergo testing himself.

Senator Padilla, a vocal advocate for the medical use of cannabis, refiled the proposed Cannabis Medicalization Act in June this year.