MANILA—Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has called for mandatory random drug testing of all officials and employees in the Senate following reports of alleged marijuana use inside the Senate premises.

In a letter dated August 17, 2025, and addressed to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Sotto cited news articles that circulated on August 13 about alleged marijuana use on the 5th floor of the Senate building.

“In 2018, the Senate conducted a mandatory random drug testing in accordance with R.A. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1700653 dated 15 March 2017 or the Mandatory Random Drug Test for Public Officials and Employees and Senate Policy Order 2018-002 (OSP) or the Revised Policy on Random Drug Testing in the Senate of the Philippines,” Sotto noted.

He urged Escudero to immediately order a new round of drug testing to maintain a drug-free workplace.

“Thus, to maintain a drug free workplace, I am asking that a mandatory random drug testing be immediately conducted in the Senate in accordance with the pertinent policy order in place,” Sotto wrote.

He added that the move would ensure morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy within the Senate workforce.