Robin Padilla visits Kidapawan City after farmers’ rally

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Robin Padilla made his way to Kidapawan City, the site of a farmers’ protest where at least two people were killed and 116 others injured. 

According to Kilab Multimedia, Robin visited the area Saturday, April 2, to meet the protesting farmers. He later visited a warehouse, where he bought 200 sacks of rice to give away.

Robin posted this on his Instagram, with lyrics to Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”:

Ang mga magsasaka ng Inangbayan Pilipinas pinagbabaril sa kanilang mapayapang paghingi ng tulong Sa kanilang gobyerno….. “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, ‘Cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? Some say it’s just a part of it, We’ve got to fulfill the book. Won’t you help to sing, These songs of freedom? ‘Cause all I ever had, Redemption songs. All I ever had, Redemption songs These songs of freedom Songs of freedom” — bob marley

A video posted by robin padilla (@robinhoodpadilla) on Mar 31, 2016 at 10:28pm PDT

“Ang mga magsasaka ng Inangbayan Pilipinas pinagbabaril sa kanilang mapayapang paghingi ng tulong sa kanilang gobyerno…,” he wrote. 

(Farmers of the Philippines, our Motherland, were shot as they peacefully asked for help from their government.) 

Ang pag aaklas ng mga uring walang lupa o naagawan ng lupa laban sa mga uring nagmamay ari ng lupa at makapangyarihan ay nagdudulot lamang ng mas lalong kahirapan sa mga magsasaka sapagkat ang mga nakikibaka ay Anak ng magsasaka at ang nanghuhuli sa kanila ay Anak din ng magsasaka kayat sa katapusan ng lahat ang nagwagi ay ang mga Haciendero at ang nawalan ay ang mga maglulupa — Luis Taruc Ang sumunod na Supremo ng rebolusyon pagkatapos ni Andres Bonifacio

A video posted by robin padilla (@robinhoodpadilla) on Apr 1, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT

“Ang pag-aaklas ng mga uring walang lupa o naagawan ng lupa laban sa mga uring nagmamay ari ng lupa at makapangyarihan ay nagdudulot lamang ng mas lalong kahirapan sa mga magsasaka sapagkat ang mga nakikibaka ay Anak ng magsasaka at ang nanghuhuli sa kanila ay Anak din ng magsasaka kayat sa katapusan ng lahat ang nagwagi ay ang mga Haciendero at ang nawalan ay ang mga maglulupa – Luis Taruc Ang sumunod na Supremo ng rebolusyon pagkatapos ni Andres Bonifacio,” he captioned a second post. 

(The revolt of the landless, or those whose land was taken from them, against land-owners and the powerful brings about more poverty to these farmers, because those who are fighting are children of farmers, and those who arrest them are also children of farmers. So in the end, the victors are the hacienderos, and the losers are those who tend those lands. – Luis Taruc, the next Supremo of the revolution after Andres Bonifacio.) 

Robin’s wife Mariel Padilla posted that Robin was in the area to meet the farmers and their families in Kidapawan City. 

that’s why we all love you!!! this morning my husband left for Davao to mourn with the families of the farmers in Kidapawan. photo © @venzie of twitter

A photo posted by mariel padilla (@marieltpadilla) on Apr 2, 2016 at 12:43am PDT

Protests began last Wednesday, March 30, as thousands of protesters blocked the Davao-Cotabato Highway to demand assistance from the government following adverse effects of a recent drought in the area. Protesters barricaded the major thoroughfare to demand the release of 15,000 sacks of rice from the government.

Violence escalated as gunshots were fired and rocks were hurled into the air during a scuffle between police and demonstrators, as authorities tried to disperse the group on Friday, according to an Agence France-Presse photographer on the scene.

Malacañang has promised an “impartial and thorough investigation” of the incident.  – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com