MANILA, Philippines – Actor Robin Padilla admitted that he’s surprised at the partial and unofficial Election 2022 results showing that he’s the leading candidate in the senatorial race.
Robin said he didn’t imagine that he would rank number one in the senatorial race, ahead of other popular bets Loren Legarda and Raffy Tulfo. Despite being endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, Robin said he didn’t have enough money or machinery to run a big campaign.
“Wala po, kahit sa magandang panaginip, hindi ko naramdaman o naisip na ako ay mangunguna na karera na ito, sa pagiging senador. Una, wala naman po akong makinarya, wala naman po akong pera, wala po ako lahat,” he said.
Robin said his success was brought by his wife, Mariel Padilla, the endorsement of the president, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, and the trust of his supporters and volunteers.
He added that the endorsement of vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and his inclusion of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s UniTeam were significant factors in his performance. It also helped that he earned the support of big religious groups like the Iglesia ni Cristo and some Muslim groups.
However, Robin says that he’s the frontrunner in the senatorial race because of his platform. He said his victory only means that the people are one with him in his campaign for charter change. He explained that many Filipinos voted for him because they also wanted to push for federalism.
“Kabigla-bigla din po ito. Pero hindi ko naman din iniisip na ako po ang ibinoto ng tao dito. Alam ko po, nararamdaman ko po na ang ibinoto ng mga tao dito ay iyon pong aking plataporma na charter change, palitan po natin ang Saligang Batas, isulong po ang pagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa mga lalawigan, at iyon po ang pederalismo. Naniniwala po ako na iyon ang niyakap ng ating taumbayan, kaya po ako siguro nangunguna sa labanan na ito. Wala po akong maisip na puwedeng maging dahilan para ako po ang manguna, kundi iyon lamang pong plataporma ko,” he said.
Robin said he won not because he’s a celebrity but his platform and mission to change the Philippine Constitution. He said that now that he has a much bigger voice, he will continue to push for that change. He said that pushing for charter change will be his first agenda once seated in the senate.
“Hindi naman po ako naniniwala na nanalo ako dahil ako’y si Robin Padilla. Hindi po ‘yan. Huwag po nating paniwalaan ‘yan. Ang paniwalaan natin ay ako po ay nakasama diyan — maging No.1 o No. 2 o maging No. 3 — para isulong ang pederalismo. Iyan po ang asahan ninyo. Hindi po ako diyan magiging bingi, hindi po ako diyan magiging pipi. Kung gaano po ako kaingay noong ako’y artista lang, noong wala pong nakikinig sa akin, ito pong lalo na na nagkaroon tayo ng plataporma, nagkaroon po tayo ng sinasabi nating pagtitiwala po ninyo at ako’y iniluklok ninyo, mas marami po tayong masasabi,” he said.
In the end, Robin said his victory only meant that the people stood with him in his fight. “Ngayon, ang taumbayan na ang nagsalita. Malinaw na malinaw po dito, dahil ako po’y walang kahit ano. Wala po akong network. Wala akong pera. Wala akong kahit ano. Pero kung ako ay mananatili sa pagiging No. 1, isa lang po ang ibig sabihin niyan — gumising na ang mataas na kapulungan at ang ating mababang kapulungan,” he said.
Platforms and stand on social issues:
Robin ran for senate under Marcos-Duterte’s UniTeam with the following platforms and beliefs:
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Robin Padilla is the frontrunner in the senate race based on partial and unofficial results of the Comelec | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ Robin Padilla |
Robin said he didn’t imagine that he would rank number one in the senatorial race, ahead of other popular bets Loren Legarda and Raffy Tulfo. Despite being endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, Robin said he didn’t have enough money or machinery to run a big campaign.
“Wala po, kahit sa magandang panaginip, hindi ko naramdaman o naisip na ako ay mangunguna na karera na ito, sa pagiging senador. Una, wala naman po akong makinarya, wala naman po akong pera, wala po ako lahat,” he said.
Robin said his success was brought by his wife, Mariel Padilla, the endorsement of the president, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, and the trust of his supporters and volunteers.
He added that the endorsement of vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and his inclusion of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s UniTeam were significant factors in his performance. It also helped that he earned the support of big religious groups like the Iglesia ni Cristo and some Muslim groups.
However, Robin says that he’s the frontrunner in the senatorial race because of his platform. He said his victory only means that the people are one with him in his campaign for charter change. He explained that many Filipinos voted for him because they also wanted to push for federalism.
“Kabigla-bigla din po ito. Pero hindi ko naman din iniisip na ako po ang ibinoto ng tao dito. Alam ko po, nararamdaman ko po na ang ibinoto ng mga tao dito ay iyon pong aking plataporma na charter change, palitan po natin ang Saligang Batas, isulong po ang pagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa mga lalawigan, at iyon po ang pederalismo. Naniniwala po ako na iyon ang niyakap ng ating taumbayan, kaya po ako siguro nangunguna sa labanan na ito. Wala po akong maisip na puwedeng maging dahilan para ako po ang manguna, kundi iyon lamang pong plataporma ko,” he said.
Robin said he won not because he’s a celebrity but his platform and mission to change the Philippine Constitution. He said that now that he has a much bigger voice, he will continue to push for that change. He said that pushing for charter change will be his first agenda once seated in the senate.
“Hindi naman po ako naniniwala na nanalo ako dahil ako’y si Robin Padilla. Hindi po ‘yan. Huwag po nating paniwalaan ‘yan. Ang paniwalaan natin ay ako po ay nakasama diyan — maging No.1 o No. 2 o maging No. 3 — para isulong ang pederalismo. Iyan po ang asahan ninyo. Hindi po ako diyan magiging bingi, hindi po ako diyan magiging pipi. Kung gaano po ako kaingay noong ako’y artista lang, noong wala pong nakikinig sa akin, ito pong lalo na na nagkaroon tayo ng plataporma, nagkaroon po tayo ng sinasabi nating pagtitiwala po ninyo at ako’y iniluklok ninyo, mas marami po tayong masasabi,” he said.
In the end, Robin said his victory only meant that the people stood with him in his fight. “Ngayon, ang taumbayan na ang nagsalita. Malinaw na malinaw po dito, dahil ako po’y walang kahit ano. Wala po akong network. Wala akong pera. Wala akong kahit ano. Pero kung ako ay mananatili sa pagiging No. 1, isa lang po ang ibig sabihin niyan — gumising na ang mataas na kapulungan at ang ating mababang kapulungan,” he said.
Platforms and stand on social issues:
Robin ran for senate under Marcos-Duterte’s UniTeam with the following platforms and beliefs:
- End contractualization and exploitation of workers and pass the Security of Tenure and End of Endo Act of 2018 (Anti-Endo Act)
- Establish a federal form of government, and empower local government units (LGU)
- Responsible mining since it can be used to pay for the national debt
- Provide more jobs instead of pushing for more “ayuda”
- Against the importation of agricultural products and pushes for more government support for farmers
- More support for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a way to end the conflict in Mindanao
— Sally, The Summit Express
