MANILA – The investigation into allegations that a staff member of Senator Robin Padilla smoked marijuana within Senate grounds has concluded, with findings forwarded to the senator’s office for “information and appropriate action,” according to Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug.

In a statement on Thursday, August 13, Bantug confirmed that the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) submitted its report after a month-long inquiry. “Several news articles reported yesterday, August 13, 2025, an incident involving the alleged use of marijuana by a Senate staff member inside the Senate premises,” Bantug said.

“Upon the instruction of Senate President Escudero, I directed the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to immediately conduct an investigation into the matter,” he added.

The issue arose following a blind item published by Politiko on August 13, which alleged that the scent of marijuana was detected near Padilla’s office by an OSAA member.

According to the incident report, OSAA officer Victor Patelo responded to two separate complaints about an “unusual scent” in the ladies’ comfort room near the Senators’ extension offices. The first occurred in the second week of July, and the second on August 12, when a staff member of Senator Panfilo Lacson reported an odor resembling marijuana.

“While manning my post on the 5th level, I received a call on the local trunk line of my post from a male staff member, reporting a strong odor in their area,” Patelo said.

Patelo said Lacson’s staff claimed the only person in the area at the time was political affairs officer Nadia Montenegro, a former actress.

“The male staff member asked me to discreetly approach Ms. Montenegro, which I did when she walked past my post, as I was unable to leave my station being the only one on duty at the time,” Patelo wrote.

“Ms. Montenegro denied smoking inside the ladies’ comfort room or using marijuana for that matter, but acknowledged possessing a vape in her bag, which she said could have produced the unusual scent reported earlier by Senator Lacson’s staff,” he added.

A separate account in the report noted that Montenegro had also suggested the smell could have come from an air freshener.

Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, confirmed that the senator’s office had received the OSAA report and that the concerned staff member was ordered to submit a written explanation within five days.

Jurado declined to name the employee but admitted they had acted based only on “clues from news reports.” He also stressed it was not accurate to say Senator Padilla was summoned by the OSAA, explaining that he had personally visited the OSAA to gather information for an internal probe.

“Padilla also ordered an internal investigation, and for the concerned staff to submit an explanation in writing,” Jurado said.

The OSAA said it will continue to conduct random drug testing for all Senate employees and staff. A copy of its findings has been forwarded to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero for any further action.

This is not the first time Padilla’s office has faced public scrutiny over conduct within the Senate premises. Last year, his wife, Mariel Padilla, drew criticism after undergoing a glutathione drip in the senator’s office.

📷 Robin Padilla FB, Nadia Montenegro IG