Robin Padilla: “Ipinagtanggol nga ni atty guanzon ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino”
ROBIN PADILLA — The senator strongly defended former Comelec Commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon after a video of her confrontation with a man inside Rockwell Power Plant Mall went viral.
According to Padilla, Guanzon was only exercising her rights as a Filipino and standing up for her dignity. He emphasized that no foreigner or stranger has the authority to order a Filipino to leave a public place in their own country, whether that person is coughing or not.
He added that the man involved should even be grateful the situation did not become more serious, since his actions were disrespectful, especially toward a senior citizen. Padilla also criticized people on social media who attacked Guanzon instead of supporting her. He found it ironic that some Filipinos praise those who speak out against foreign abuse in the West Philippine Sea, yet in this case, they were quick to turn against a fellow Filipino who defended herself.
In the footage, Rowena Guanzon was seen shouting and expressing anger at a man and a woman. She later explained that everything started when the man noticed that she had coughed and told her that she should leave the mall and go home. She felt deeply embarrassed because he said this loudly in front of many people, making it seem as though she had done something wrong. The situation became more insulting when the man also questioned whether she even had money to buy a face mask. For Guanzon, this was not simple concern for health but a clear case of public humiliation.
Because of the incident, Guanzon went to the police and filed a complaint for unjust vexation and grave oral defamation. She said that she is not someone who gets angry easily, but when there is clear disrespect and unfair treatment, she cannot simply remain silent. In her view, what happened was a form of public shaming that should not be ignored. She believed that by speaking up, she was defending not only herself but also others who may experience the same treatment and are afraid to stand up for their rights.