‘IN MY HUSBAND’S OFFICE’ Actress Mariel Padilla in this Feb. 19 photo posted on Instagram (and since deleted) gets a Vitamin C treatment while Sen. Robinhood Padilla is shown in the background. —@MARIELTPADILLA/INSTAGRAM
Actress Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla apologized to the Senate for receiving an intravenous treatment while inside the office of her husband, Senator Robinhood Padilla, as she clarified that what she had was a Vitamin C drip and not glutathione.
In a statement coursed through her husband’s office, Padilla said sorry to other senators and the staff of the upper chamber, claiming it was not her intention to “undermine the integrity and dignity of the Senate.”
“I want to extend my sincerest apologies to all concerned, including the members and staff of the Senate and the public. We uphold the Senate’s dignity and integrity,” she said. “Thank you for your understanding.”
Padilla, in explaining why she had her drip session in the senate, clarified that what she had was a vitamin C drip, not glutathione, and that it was administered to her by a professional nurse, who was supervising the treatment.
She said that she was just at the Senate on that day to show support for her husband, whose bill, the Eddie Garcia Bill — which aimed to promote the welfare of TV and film workers — passed the third and final reading, despite her busy schedule as wife, mother and online seller.
“I wanted to be there with him since his work is very important to him,” she said.
“To clarify, I received a vitamin C drip, not glutathione, under the medical supervision of a professional nurse,” she said. “Having mentioned this, my intent was just to inspire others that even amidst various activities or wherever they are, they can still prioritize their health by taking vitamins,” she explained.
Her statement echoed what she said in her now-deleted video on Instagram. “Dahil iba tayo, iba rin. Look at what I’m doing, (mentions wellness brand) sa Senado. Drip anywhere, kasi kailangan consistent tayo sa vitamins na nilalagay natin sa ating katawan… try nyo din yung style ko na drip anywhere,” she said while prominently displaying the Senate seal in her video.
An advisory released on Saturday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned “injectable glutathione is sometimes paired with intravenous Vitamin C. Vitamin C injection may form kidney stones if the urine is acidic.”
“Large doses of Vitamin C have resulted in hemodialysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency,” FDA noted.
FDA’s advisory alerted the public on the dangers associated with injectable lightening agents such as glutathione.
These products are accessible in many health and beauty salons, wellness spas, and beauty clinics in the country.
The agency said it is alarming that these salons offer services such as “intravenous drip or infusion using skin lightening agents including reduced glutathione, vitamin C and other injections.”
Meanwhile, Padilla’s drip session in the senate also incurred the attention of the Senate ethics committee through its chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, said the committee should look closely into the incident, since the matter involved the “conduct, integrity and reputation” of the senate as an institution.