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Escudero urged: Order random drug test among Senate officials, employees

August 18, 2025

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The Freeman

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III has urged Senate President Francis Escudero to immediately conduct a mandatory random drug test for all Senate officials and employees, following allegations of marijuana use within the chamber.

In a letter dated Aug. 17 addressed to Escudero, Sotto cited the news coverage last week on the supposed drug use of former actress and Sen. Robin Padilla’s staffer Nadia Montenegro on the 5th floor of the Senate building.

He recalled that the Senate had previously carried out random testing in 2018 in line with Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1700653 mandating random drug tests for public officials and employees, and Senate Policy Order 2018-002.

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