Tito Sotto urges random drug test in Senate in wake of Nadia incident

Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has recommended random drug testing in the Senate following reports of alleged use of marijuana by a Senate staff member inside the premises of the upper chamber. 

Sotto said that during his stint as Senate President in the 18th Congress, he implemented random drug testing to ensure that the Senate was drug-free, based on a Super Radyo dzBB report of Nimfa Ravelo. 

Incumbent Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier ordered an investigation into the marijuana use allegedly by a staff of Senator Robin Padilla. 

Senate Minority Leader @sotto_tito, iminungkahi na magsagawa muli sa senado ng random drug test. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/qGWeFCIZWL

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 15, 2025

Padilla’s office has also launched its own probe into the matter, as disclosed by his chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado. 

The Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) has submitted a report on the incident and a copy of which was given to Padilla’s office. Jurado confirmed that they received the report on Thursday, August 14, and said that the subject employee was ordered to submit a written explanation within five days. 

Actress Nadia Montenegro was named in the incident report by the OSAA, but she reportedly denied smoking inside the ladies' room and using marijuana. –NB, GMA Integrated News