Senate Sgt-at-Arms, Robin's office probe staffer's alleged marijuana use in premises

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and the office of Senator Robin Padilla have ordered an investigation into the alleged use of marijuana by a Senate staff member inside the premises of the upper chamber. 

Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. said that he directed the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to launch a probe upon Escudero’s instruction, following reports of marijuana use allegedly by a staff of Padilla. 

Bantug said that the OSAA already submitted its report on the incident as of Thursday, August 14, and a copy was given to the senator’s office. 

“As instructed by Senate President Escudero, we have provided a copy of this report to the Office of Senator Robinhood C. Padilla for their information and appropriate action,” the Senate secretary said in a statement. 

DEVELOPING STORY: Sen. Robinhood Padilla, pinaiimbestigahan na ang ulat na mayroon siyang staff na nahuli umanong gumagamit ng marijuana habang nasa palikuran ng Senado. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/fDtGojBCRK

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 14, 2025

Padilla’s chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, has confirmed that they are also conducting their own investigation into the matter, based on a Super Radyo dzBB report of Nimfa Ravelo. 

Jurado also said that Padilla’s office has asked the subject employee to submit a written explanation. 

In a phone call with GMA News Online, Jurado confirmed that they received the OSAA report around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. 

“Immediately, we required the subject employee to submit her comment and/or explanation within five days with regards to that incident report,” he said. 

He shared that Padilla was initially surprised when he heard of the news, thus requiring his office to initiate its own probe to determine whether the allegation was true or not. 

“In fact, nung lumabas ‘yan kahapon immediately, nag-conduct kami ng investigation, internal lang sa’min. Kasi syempre sabi ni Senator, ‘Ano ‘to? Tayo ba to? Tayo ba ang nire-refer dito?’” Jurado said. 

(When the news came out yesterday, we immediately conducted an internal investigation because when Senator Padilla found out, he asked if it was our office being linked.) 

Jurado also refuted claims that he was summoned by the OSAA, saying that he personally went to the office on Wednesday to inquire about the matter.  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News