Nadia Montenegro files libel, harassment cases over Senate marijuana allegations
Nadia Montenegro is taking legal action for libel and harassment after she was accused of using marijuana inside the Senate, leading to her resignation as the political affairs officer of Sen. Robin Padilla.
The actress, together with her legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, had filed a libel complaint before the Caloocan City court against two media outlets that had reported that she was the staff member allegedly caught using marijuana inside the Senate premises.
"Meron kasing article saying that may nahuli sa Senate na gumagamit ng marijuana. But based on the truth and also the incident report of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, ang nakita kay Nadia is vape—grape flavored vape—so it's actually false and very malicious to state that my client Nadia Montenegro was caught using marijuana in the Senate," Abraham-Garduque told reporters.
Montenegro also filed separate charges for unjust vexation and violation of the Safe Spaces Act against a Senate security personnel before the prosecutor's office in Pasay City.
"Unjust vexation because Nadia was dragged and grabbed by her arm and she was dragged to a wall at the Senate Office, at the Senate Hall," Abraham-Garduque said.
Recalling the incident that took place on Aug. 12, Montenegro said that the personnel had pulled her aside to talk to her and ask about an incident of a staff member allegedly using marijuana.
"I showed him my vape. And then, I even offered him to check my bag. I gave him my bag and then, after that, nagulat na lang ako that there was a photo that came out on TV and all over the news that that was the time that I was apprehended, which is not true. There was no apprehension," she recounted.
"It was just that. A short conversation. Not knowing meron na pa lang kumuha ng picture namin sa labas. And the rest is history," she continued.
Abraham-Garduque explained that they decided to file a case two months after the incident, as they took some time to exhaust legal actions and send letters to the Senate for them to be able to have a meeting regarding the issue.
"There was also a time that we wrote so that we can get the CCTV footage of the incident that happened on Aug. 12. But no avail on our part... so dahil wala namang nangyari, this is the time for the filing of the cases," she said.
With regards to her decision to resign, Montenegro maintained that she chose to step down from her post for the welfare of her family and not out of guilt.
"Because in like a few hours, all of a sudden, I was already accused, named, lambasted, bashed all over. Even my children," she said. "That's why I resigned is because I knew I had to face this, and as long as nandun ako at empleyado ko, alam kong walang katotohanan na lalabas."
She also didn't want anyone to be dragged into the issue, including Padilla, as this was her "own battle."
"I know I would be used against him also. I'm very, very, very pleased with my decision of resigning. It gave me so much peace also," Montenegro highlighted.
According to the report of the Aenate OSAA, the actress was the only person in the area when one of Sen. Ping Lacson’s staffers noticed a strong odor resembling marijuana coming from the ladies’ restroom. The staffer informed security personnel, Victor Patelo, who then filed the incident report.
The OSAA then submitted the report to Padilla, requesting his "appropriate action." Montenegro later submitted her letter of resignation five days after the incident.