MANILA, Philippines – The office of Senator Robin Padilla has confirmed that staff member and former actress Nadia Montenegro was asked to take a leave of absence, following reports of alleged marijuana use within the Senate premises.
Padilla’s chief of staff, lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado, clarified that Montenegro has not resigned, contrary to reports circulating online.
“Nadia Montenegro did not resign from our office. She is only on leave,” Jurado said, adding that the leave took effect on Aug. 13.
Senate President Francis Escudero directed the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to file an incident report and was tasked to investigate allegations that Montenegro had smoked marijuana inside the lady’s room of the Senate building in Pasay City.
Montenegro denied the claom but admitted to carrying a vape device in her bag, which she said may have caused the “unusual scent” that prompted the complaint.