Nadia Montenegro files complaints vs. Senate employee, several media outlets

Actress Nadia Montenegro has filed complaints against several media outlets and a Senate employee.

According to Mel Tiangco’s report on “24 Oras” Wednesday, Montenegro’s libel complaints against several media outlets stemmed from published articles that allegedly linked her to an incident of marijuana use inside the premises of the Senate. 

In addition to the libel complaints, Montenegro filed complaints for unjust vexation and violation of the Safe Spaces Act against a Senate employee. These complaints were filed before the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office, per the report. 

According to Montenegro’s lawyer, the news circulating about the incident is false and malicious. Her lawyer also asserted that based on the official report from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, only a vape was found on Montenegro.

In August, Montenegro denied smoking inside the Senate ladies' room and using marijuana, but admitted to possessing a vape in her bag. 

In the same month, she resigned from her position as Senator Robin Padilla’s political affairs officer. 

In her explanation letter, Montenegro said that her decision to resign is not an admission of guilt, but "a demonstration of my deep respect for the Senate and Senator Padilla’s office, so that this issue does not cause further distraction or harm." 

"To prevent this baseless issue from growing any further, I would rather remove myself from the spotlight and allow the Senate to focus on its important work,” she added. 

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News