Nadia Montenegro resigns from Senate post amid prohibited substance controversy
• Actress Nadia Montenegro has officially resigned from her position as a political affairs officer for Senator Robin Padilla amidst a controversy linking her to alleged substance use
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• In her resignation letter, Montenegro vehemently denied the allegations, citing her mental health and the welfare of her children as the reasons for stepping down
• Montenegro accused an incident report of being maliciously leaked to the media, which led to a "publicity trial" and caused "grave humiliation" to her and her family
• The incident has prompted discussions on Senate security, with a bill being filed to mandate yearly drug tests for all government employees
Actress Nadia Montenegro has officially resigned from her position as a political affairs officer in the office of Senator Robin Padilla, the senator’s office confirmed on Monday.
Source: Instagram
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The resignation comes amidst a swirling controversy following a security incident report that linked Montenegro to the alleged use of a prohibited substance within the Senate premises.
In a five-page written statement and resignation letter dated August 15, Montenegro vehemently denied the allegations, citing the need to step down for the sake of her "mental health and the welfare of my children."
She asserted that she was not the staff member mentioned in various media reports who was allegedly caught using a prohibited substance in a ladies' comfort room in the Senate.
Montenegro detailed in her letter that while she did use a restroom on August 12, it was a PWD (Person with Disability) comfort room, not the women's restroom where the "unusual scent" was reportedly detected.
She also stated that when a security guard approached her, she voluntarily showed him her vape and even let him smell its grape-flavored scent to prove it was not the claimed prohibited substance.
The actress also questioned the security report, pointing out that a staff member of another senator, Senator Panfilo Lacson, claimed she was the only one in the women's restroom, a claim she says is impossible for a male staff to verify.
The actress lamented how the incident report, which was intended for the Office of the Sergeant at Arms (OSAA), was leaked to the media, leading to what she called a "publicity trial" without due process.
She described the emotional distress and "grave humiliation" she and her family have experienced, particularly her children, who have been ridiculed as the "children of a drug addict."
Montenegro emphasized that her resignation is not an admission of guilt. Instead, she described it as a "demonstration of my deep respect for the Senate and Senator Padilla's office, so that this issue does not cause further distraction or harm."
She added that she would rather remove herself from the spotlight to allow the Senate to focus on its legislative work.
Prior to her resignation, Montenegro had been on a leave of absence since August 13 as the Senate conducted its investigation.
The issue has prompted a broader discussion on security and illegal substances within the legislative building.
In response, Senator Padilla filed a bill mandating yearly drug tests for all government officials and employees to ensure a "drug-free government."
Other senators, including Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, have also voiced their support for a mandatory drug-testing policy for all Senate personnel.
Nadia Montenegro has long been known in the showbiz industry as an actress and TV personality. Aside from her career, she is also known for being a hands-on mother and being open to the public about her family life. Recently, she became part of Senator Robin Padilla's team, but her tenure was short-lived due to this controversy. Despite her resignation, Nadia stated that it is not an admission of guilt but a step to protect her mental health and her family's dignity.
Nadia Montenegro was accused of being the staff member allegedly caught smoking an illegal substance in a Senate restroom. The actress vehemently denied the accusation and clarified that she did not use the said restroom. She expressed dismay over why the issue, which should have remained within the Senate, was released to the media. Nadia resigned from the office of Sen. Robin Padilla to take care of her mental health and the welfare of her children.
It can be recalled that earlier, the actress and staff member was asked to take a leave of absence from Senator Robin Padilla's office amid a drug probe. The Senate's Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) report named Montenegro in an incident involving an "unusual scent" believed to be a prohibited substance. While she denied smoking a prohibited substance, Montenegro reportedly acknowledged having a vape that could have caused the smell. The incident has led to renewed calls for mandatory and random drug testing for all Senate employees.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
