Senator, staff to undergo drug testing

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Miguel Zubiri said he and his entire staff would undergo "random" drug testing tomorrow, amid the marijuana smoking scandal in the Senate's premises involving Nadia Montenegro, a former actor and staff member of Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

"I will subject my office to random drug testing, I will have them undergo test. I will mandatorily ask my staff to take drug tests including me. So there will be no doubt," Zubiri told dwIZ. He had arranged for the drug test to begin at 11 a.m.

"And I encourage all other senators' offices to do the same," he added.

Zubiri stressed that he would lead by example, saying he is even willing to undergo a hair follicle test, considered to be more accurate.

"You know, refusing a drug test will invite suspicion that we're all doing drugs, so we need to undergo drug test. But it should be 'follow the leader,' so I'll take the test first, and I'm willing to take it if it's a hair follicle test so there will be no doubt and they'll say nobody in the office of Migz Zubiri does drugs," he said.

While he cannot decide for the other senators, he said he can urge his colleagues in the minority bloc to take the same step.