SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced that the Senate plans to conduct a mandatory random drug test (MRDT) for all officials and employees during the 20th Congress.
This decision comes in response to Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s request to maintain a drug-free workplace within the upper chamber.
Escudero expressed his full support for the initiative, noting that the Senate had previously partnered with the East Avenue Medical Center to facilitate such testing. Due to scheduling conflicts related to the upcoming 2025 elections, the MRDT was postponed and is now set to resume during the current Congress.
Escudero’s office is currently finalizing the new policy on mandatory random drug testing, incorporating lessons learned from past implementations to ensure a more effective and transparent process. T
he policy awaits the complete roster of Senate employees, as new appointments are still being processed. This move follows reports of a staff member allegedly using marijuana within Senate premises, prompting Escudero to order an investigation.
The incident report named Nadia Montenegro, who has denied the allegation and has since resigned from Senator Robin Padilla’s office, citing concerns for her mental health and her children’s well-being.
In a show of support for the initiative, Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and his 35 staff members underwent voluntary drug testing, encouraging other senators and their staff to follow suit.
Senator Raffy Tulfo also announced that he and his staff would undergo drug testing, emphasizing a strict “no exceptions” policy: any staff member who tests positive for illegal drugs will be immediately terminated, regardless of their position. These actions underscore the Senate’s commitment to ensuring a drug-free environment and maintaining public trust.
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