“Isama n’yo na ‘ko” Comment of Robin Padilla Goes Viral Again After Duterte’s Arrest
ROBIN PADILLA – The senator’s statement has gone viral again following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 11 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) based on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Padilla, a known ally of Duterte, had previously expressed his willingness to be arrested alongside fellow Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa if the ICC ever issued a warrant against him. A Facebook page recently resurfaced Padilla’s statement from two years ago, where he defended Dela Rosa, who was closely linked to Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs.”
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP Chief under Duterte’s administration, played a significant role in implementing “Oplan Tokhang,” the aggressive anti-drug campaign accused of numerous human rights violations. Reports from the ICC estimate that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed during the campaign, though government records claim the number is only 6,248.
The “Follow the Trend Movement” (FFTM) also shared Padilla’s 2023 statement, where he stood by his ally, saying, “Kung huhulihin nila si Bato, isama niyo na ako dahil ako, isa ako sa sumuporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte diyan sa drug war. Walang iwanan nga, e. Sasamahan ko sila kung saan sila, tutal sanay naman tayo sa kulungan. Sa abroad pa, naku, masarap pagkain doon. Okay ‘yon.” His statement went viral due to his past imprisonment in 1994 for illegal possession of firearms.
Meanwhile, Duterte and Dela Rosa’s legal team has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, requesting a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Philippine government’s cooperation with the ICC. Their lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, argued that Duterte’s detention is illegal and unconstitutional.
He called for Duterte’s immediate release and urged the government to stop coordinating with Interpol or any foreign law enforcement agency regarding ICC-related warrants. Torreon insisted that since the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, it has no obligation to comply with its rulings.
Related Post: Rodrigo Duterte: What Awaits Him at The Hague?