Robin Padilla on Hand Sign Issue: ‘Kung gusto niyo akong mag-resign, ngayon na, huwag niyo akong siraan’

Sen. Robin Padilla Doubts Alleged Silence of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms amid Hand Sign Issue

ROBIN PADILLA – The Senator asked why the Senate sergeant-at-arms was mum on the viral hand sign issue against him.

The Senate shakeup elicited different reactions from the Filipino people. The revamp happened after some senators were dragged in the flood control mess in the country now. Former Senate President Chiz Escudero, former Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, and former Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva’s names were dragged into the issue.

Following the change in leadership, the upper chamber is now led by Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. The Senate President Pro Tempore is Sen. Ping Lacson while the Majority Leader is Sen. Migz Zubiri. The Senate Minority Leader which is Sotto’s previous post before sitting as the Senate chief is now held by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

The Senate Majority bloc consists 15 senators while the Minority bloc got 9 members. Most of the Duterte-allies are now under the Minority bloc in the upper chamber.

Recently, aside from the senators who are being linked to the flood control issue in the Philippines now, Sen. Robin Padilla earned criticisms for allegedly flashing a hand sign during the singing of the National Anthem. Photos that were taken from angles that casts doubts on which finger did he use elicited countless reactions online.

Recently, during a plenary session, Sen. Robin Padilla confronted Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. Based on a post on News5, the Minority Senator asked why the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms did not issue a report on the matter. According to him, no one explained that the accusation against him is not true. He stressed that it was a heavy accusation against him.

“Ito po ay naging malaking isyu. Ako po ay nagtataka, Ginoong Tagapangulo, sapagkat noon pong dati na binigyan ako ng isyu na isang tsismis, eh naglabas po kaagad ang ating sergeant-at-arms ng report at binigay niya po kaagad sa media. Ito po, wala pong kahit na sino ang nagpapaliwanag na hindi ko po ginawa. Ang tanong ko po, meron po ba tayong tinititigan sa tinitingnan dito? Kasi napaka-bigat po ng akusasyon na ito sa harapan po ng ating bandila,” Padilla said.

Furthermore, Sen. Robin Padilla also claimed that he is ready to resign if it is just about politics. However, with regards to his religion, it is something that he does not want to be tainted. Based on the post, the Duterte-known ally explained his viral hand sign.

“Kung pulitika lang, handa po akong mag-resign. Pero pagka religion ko po ang pinag-uusapan, eh, kahit sino sa inyo, o ano gusto niyo, wala pong problema. Hinihingi ko po, huwag pong religion ko. Ito po’y nag-iisang diyos. Dito po nakasalalay ang aming pananampalataya. Handa po kaming magpakamatay para dito. Sana po huwag pong gamitin ito para siraan ako. Dahil sinasabi ko po mahal na tagapangulo, kung gusto niyo akong mag-resign ngayon na kung gusto ninyo. Huwag niyo akong siraan,” the Senator said.

Aside from Padilla, another Senate Minority bloc member, Sen. Bato dela Rosa, also aired a sentiment to Senate Pres. Tito Sotto who is accused of being under House Speaker Martin Romualdez.