Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay on Friday, February 23 said she is bothered over the reported Intravenous Glutathione (IV Gluta) drip procedure done within the Senate by Mariel Padilla, wife of Sen. Robinhood Padilla. 

Binay pointed out that the Department of Health (DOH) has already declared “gluta” drips as unsafe and has also been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Nakaka-bother lang dahil yung (It is bothering because the) IV procedure was done inside the Senate premises na walang abiso mula sa (without any advise from the) clinic,” Binay said in a statement.

“And to make it more complicated, yung gluta drip ay ni-declare na mismo ng (the gluta drip itself has been declared by the) DOH na (as) unsafe, banned ng (by the) FDA, and it was administered outside the clinic without the proper medical advice from a licensed health professional,” she added.

Mrs. Padilla earlier earned flak after posting on Instagram app that she conducted an IV gluta drip session at the Senate office of her husband. The post has since been deleted.

The senator’s wife was in the Senate at that time to support the passage on third and final reading of the “Eddie Garcia” bill.

“As public figures, sana aware din tayo sa responsabilidad natin sa publiko (As public figures, I hope we are aware of our responsibility to the public),” Binay stressed.

“We might be promoting something na ipinagbabawal at iligal, at akala ng mga tao eh okey lang. Isipin din natin may kasamang kapanagutan ang pagiging artista, lalo na kung senador ang asawa mo (We might be promoting something that is prohibited and illegal and the people might think it’s just okay. Let's also be mindful that being an artist comes with responsibility, especially if your husband is a senator),” the lawmaker added.

Binay, however, said she is not sure if the incident should be a subject of investigation by the Senate ethics committee.

“I'm not sure if the ethics committee can extend its jurisdiction dito sa nangyaring insidente since hindi naman member ng Senado si Ms. Mariel (on this incident since Ms. Mariel is not a member of the Senate),” she pointed out. 

“But we also need to closely look into it because it involves issues of conduct, integrity and reputation of the Institution, and matters that concern health and safety,” she reiterated.

Sen. Padilla, on the other hand, defended his wife’s actions saying there was “no intention of disrespect.”

“Nakakatawa naman po ang political issue na yan, my goodness. Kung may nakita po silang masama sa larawan na iyan, paumanhin po (Such political issue is laughable. If they saw something negative on that photo, I apologize). No intention of disrespect,” the lawmaker said.

“My wife loves to promote good looks and good health,” he stressed.