Zubiri, Villanueva back proposal on random drug test for Senate officials, staff

At least two senators have expressed support for the proposal of Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III to randomly test Senate officials and employees for illegal drugs. 

The call came amid reports of alleged marijuana use by Senator Robin Padilla’s staff member within the Senate premises.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said that he and his staff would be subjected to a drug test on Monday. He also said that he is willing to undergo a hair follicle drug test.

“This coming week, I will subject my office to drug testing. Talagang ipapa-test ko silang lahat. (I really will order all of them to be tested.) I will mandatorily ask my staff, including me, to take drug testing. Pati senador, isama natin para wala nang duda (Even the senator, we will include so that there will be no doubts),” he said in a radio interview.

“I encourage all the other offices, all the other senators, to do the same… Lawmakers should not be lawbreakers,” he added.

He added that his employees would be suspended and undergo rehabilitation if they tested positive for illegal drugs.

“Ang gagawin po natin (What we will do is that), for due process, maybe we can ask for their preventive suspension,” he said.

“Kung admitted nila na talagang sila po ay gumagamit ng bawal na gamot, bigyan natin sila ng chance to rehabilitate. Pasok muna sila sa rehab. At pag magrehab sila matapos ang ilang buwan at negative na ang drug test nila, we can allow them to go back to work,” he added. 

(If they admit that they really are using illegal drugs, we will give them a chance for rehabilitation. They have to enter rehab first, and after they undergo rehab and test negative after a couple of months, we can allow them to go back to work.)

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said that he has consistently supported drug-testing initiatives.

“I am confident that under the leadership of Senate President Chiz Escudero, this practice will continue, and I believe this is an opportune time to reaffirm our commitment to it as a means of upholding the integrity of the institution,” he said.

Villanueva said that he is willing to submit to any kind of drug test.

“It is very important not only for us senators but for all civil servants to lead by example,” he said. 

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 by Nimfa Ravelo on Friday.

Escudero earlier ordered an investigation into the marijuana use allegedly by Padilla's staff.

Actress Nadia Montenegro was named in the incident report by the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, but she denied smoking inside the ladies' room and using marijuana. She admitted, however, that she had a vape in her bag, which she said could have produced the ''unusual scent'' reported earlier by Senator Panfilo Lacson's staff.

Padilla's office directed Montenegro to take a leave of absence and submit a written explanation within five days. —VBL, GMA Integrated News