It’s not every day that the Philippine Senate becomes the backdrop for a showbiz-meets-crime-drama plot twist — but that is exactly what happened recently.
The star of the show? Actress Nadia Montenegro.
The accusation? That she was puffing marijuana in the ladies’ comfort room near the office of Senator Robin Padilla.
The actress’ response? A firm “No way.”
The story began with a Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) report dated August 13, detailing two separate incidents involving a “strong, unusual odor” wafting from the women’s restroom on the 5th floor.
In both cases, Senate security officer Victor Patelo was summoned — first in July, then again just this August 12 — after staff claimed the scent resembled that of marijuana.
The second incident, however, upped the drama: a Senate employee allegedly from Sen. Ping Lacson’s office pointed out that the only person in the vicinity at the time was “Ms. Nadia Montenegro.”
Patelo confronted the actress, who flatly denied the marijuana claim.
She did, however, admit to carrying a vape in her bag — which she suggested could have been the source of the scent.
Whether that vape was minty fresh or… more herbal in nature is, of course, another question.
Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that the OSAA has already submitted a report to Sen. Robin’s office.
His chief of staff, Atty. Rudolf Philip Jurado, said the alleged staffer has been given five days to submit a written explanation — though even Jurado admits they’re not entirely sure she’s the one mentioned in the report.
The OSAA, for now, is keeping the investigation open and has promised more random drug tests among Senate staff.
So what’s really going on here? Is this a case of mistaken identity, an innocent vape misunderstanding, or is there truly something hazy lingering in the Senate air?
Until the investigation clears the smoke — literally — we can only wait.
