MARIJUANA INCIDENT AT SENATE
‘Nadia Montenegro’ named in Senate marijuana incident report
Former actress Nadia Montenegro with Senator Robin Padilla and his brother, Rommel Padilla | Photo from Montenegro’s Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – A woman identified as “Nadia Montenegro,” a staff member in the office of Senator Robin Padilla, has been named in an incident report concerning the alleged use of marijuana within the Senate building. The report, dated August 13, details an incident on Tuesday where a staff member of Senator Panfilo Lacson reported an “unusual odor” emanating from a ladies’ comfort room on the 5th floor, near the Senators’ extension offices.
According to the report, Senate security personnel Victor Patelo was informed that the odor resembled marijuana. The Lacson staff member stated that the only person in the vicinity at the time was allegedly Ms. Montenegro. Patelo’s report indicates he discreetly approached Montenegro, who denied using marijuana or smoking in the comfort room. However, she acknowledged having a vape in her bag, which she suggested might have caused the scent.
Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, Senator Padilla’s chief of staff, confirmed that Nadia Montenegro is an employee in their office. He stated that the office had previously requested a written explanation from Montenegro when initial reports of the alleged marijuana use surfaced. Following the submission of the official incident report to the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), headed by Police Major General Mao Aplasca, Padilla’s office issued a second memo to Montenegro on Thursday, giving her five days to provide a written explanation.
Jurado, however, described the media reports as a “classic example of fake news” when comparing them to the facts presented in the incident report. Major General Aplasca confirmed that his office has submitted a separate “investigation report” to the Office of the Senate President, noting that it differs from the initial incident report.
