This story was updated on February 26, 2024, at 1:00 PM
Days after her viral "drip session" at the Senate, Mariel Padilla broke her silence and responded to the netizens' comments on the now-deleted photo.
"In my heart, [wala] akong tinapakan na kahit sinong tao. Kung may na-offend, sorry, pero walang intention na maka-offend," she said in an interview. She furthered by saying that since it was almost 9:00 in the evening when her husband's Senate session was finished, she opted to do her own "drip session" at his office.
Moreover, Mariel clarified that what she had was not glutathione drip, instead, it was a Vitamin C drip. "To clarify, I received a Vitamin C Drip, not Glutathione, under the medical supervision of a professional nurse. 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," Mariel wrote in a statement she released via Instagram.
Her husband, Robin Padilla had already addressed the issue. "If they saw something bad in that photograph, I apologize. No intention of disrespect," he asserted.
However, Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, declared that they will be looking into the matter as the incident has caused great concern for the Senate's integrity and reputation.
"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. 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," the Filipina senator firmly expressed in a statement. Senator Nancy also mentioned how the health department has flagged the use of intravenous procedures or IV drips, just like what Mariel did.
Mariel became the talk of the town following a February 21, 2024 post on Instagram, where she showed off having a beauty gluta drip session while inside her husband's office in the Senate.
ICYMI, Mariel proudly conducted her gluta drip session at the office of her husband, Senator Robin Padilla, and deleted the post after several netizens expressed their dismay.
The now-deleted post read, "Drip anywhere is our motto! Hehehe I had an appointment with @dripinluxeph but I was going to be late so I had it done in my husband's office..."
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Even after deleting the post, netizens still found a way to remind Mariel of what they believe was inappropriate behavior. In a separate post where Mariel was talking about her support for the Eddie Garcia Bill at the Senate, she received several comments about her viral gluta drip picture.
"Nasaan na yung gluta drip post mo mare? Feeling bahay mo naman ang Senado," one netizen said.
Another said, "Gluta drip pa more mamsh!"
Political commentary visual artist Kevin Raymundo also made an editorial cartoon about the incident.
Republic Act 6713 mandates the promotion of "high standard of ethics in public service." While Mariel is not a government official, her post included a photo of her husband, actor-turned-lawmaker Robin. Mariel's gluta photo also had a Philippine flag in the background.
What is a glutathione drip?
The procedure is an intravenous treatment that supposedly improves skin texture and complexion.
Dermatologists already advised against taking these glutathione drips, or any glutathione product, warning of serious risks.
Experts earlier cited studies that glutathione drips used for "cosmetic purposes" pose serious risks to the person getting them, namely: acute renal failure, severe drug reactions, vasculitis, anaphylactic shock, and many documented side effects based on studies on IV glutathione used as skin whitening.
