ACTRESS and television host Mariel Padilla, who drew flak for posting a photo while she was receiving what appeared to be cosmetic treatment in her husband Sen. Robinhood Padilla’s office last week, has apologized “to all concerned,” saying she never intended “to malign nor undermine the integrity and dignity of the Senate.”
She also claimed that what she received was actually a Vitamin C drip, not glutathione, as earlier reported, adding that the procedure was done under the medical supervision of a nurse.
“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 in a statement posted on her husband’s official Facebook account on Sunday, Feb. 25.
“[M]y intent was just to inspire others that even amidst various activities or wherever they are, they can still prioritize their health by taking vitamins,” Padilla said.
According to the celebrity, she was in the Senate that day to show support for her husband following the passage of the Eddie Garcia bill, which seeks to promote and protect the welfare of film and TV production workers.
Glutathione is a compound believed by many to have skin-lightening properties. But the Department of Health (DOH) warned anew on Feb. 24 that this might cause serious side effects in the absence of clinical studies.
Padilla never mentioned glutathione in her now-deleted Instagram post on Feb. 19, but she said about her procedure in her husband’s office: “I never miss a drip because it really helps in so many ways — collagen production, whitening, energy, metabolism, immunity and much more.”
Despite Padilla’s clarification, the DOH issued another statement on Sunday stressing that it “categorically states that there are no published clinical trials that have evaluated the use of injectable glutathione for skin lightening.”
“Injectable glutathione is sometimes paired with intravenous Vitamin C. Vitamin C injection may form kidney stones if the urine is acidic,” the DOH said, citing the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Circular No. 2019-182.
“Large doses of Vitamin C have resulted in hemodialysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency,” warned the department.
The DOH noted that once the FDA has approved a prescription drug for entry into the Philippine market, “neither the DOH itself nor the FDA can regulate the practice of doctors who will be prescribing those drugs for their patients.”
Sen. Padilla Says Sorry to Senate Execs
Sen. Padilla has apologized to officials of the Senate over the said incident.
“Ang liham pong ito ay upang ipaabot ang aking paghingi ng paumanhin sa pangyayari noong ika-19 ng Pebrero, 2024, patungkol sa pagsasagawa ng Vitamin C Intravenous Drip ng aking maybahay sa loob ng aking tanggapan dito sa Senado,” he said in a letter to Senate sergeant-at-arms retired Lt. Gen. Roberto T. Ancan.
“Kailanman po ay hindi ko naisip na ipagwalang-bahala ang mga umiiral na alituntunin ukol sa seguridad ng Senado, lalo’t higit ang hindi pagbibigay-galang sa ating institusyon.”“Makakaasa po kayo na hindi na mauulit ang ganitong uri ng pangyayari,” he added.
The senator initially laughed off the incident that he said has turned into a political issue. (Dexter Cabalza, Tina G. Santos, Maila Ager © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
