MANILA, Philippines – Actor Robin Padilla gave his thoughts about President Rodrigo Duterte’s plans against drugs, among other issues, while speaking with media Friday, August 19.  

In an interview with the press at the Bravo men’s supplement launch where he and his brother Rommel were introduced as the new endorsers, Robin was asked how he felt about reports of celebrities being detained for drug use. Most recently, radio DJ Karen Bordador and boyfriend Emilio Lim were arrested after being found in possession of drugs. 

Robin, a known supporter of Duterte, said: “Naku, napakahirap yata sagutin iyan, pero wala tayong magagawa diyan eh. Talagang hindi naman nagkulang ang mahal na pangulo na nagsabi na, stop it. Eh nandiyan na iyan. Ang masasabi ko lang, eh tanggapin natin kung ano man iyon,” he said.

(That’s very hard to answer, but we cannot do anything about it. Our beloved president did not fail in reminding everyone to stop it [drugs]. But it’s there already. What I can say is, we should accept it.)

As for whether he and celebrities would be willing to undergo a drug test to show proof of their innocence, Robin said: “Hindi ako pwede magsalita para sa lahat ng mga artista. Kasi syempre, may kanya-kanya tayong prinsipyo, may kanya-kanya tayong paniniwala, may kanya-kanya tayong pakikibaka.

(I cannot speak for all the celebrities. We have our own principles in life, we have our own beliefs, we have our own struggles.)

“Hindi ko alam kung paano nila tatanggapin ito baka para sa kanila, isang paglabag sa kanilang karapatan. Basta ako, ang masasabi ko lang sa mga mahal kong kapatid sa industriya, maging artista man, direktor, producer, may-ari ng network, o ano man, wala pong masamang tinapay ang mahal ng pangulo sa atin. Ang mahal na pangulo ay nagbibigay ng serbisyo sa atin.“

(I don’t know how they’ll see it because for them it might be against their rights. But for me, what I can say to my brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry, whether you are an actor, director, producer or owner of the network or what, our president means us no harm. Our president is serving everyone.)

Robin also reacted to the report that the police now have a list of well-known personalities reportedly using drugs, following the arrest of Bordador and Lim.  (READ: Police eye charges against Karen Bordador, Emilio Lim)

“Ito pong ginagawa niya para sa bansa ito, para sa atin ito. Ang siguro po na pwede po nating pakiusap, ang pwedeng pakiusap ng showbiz world kay mayor ay ‘yung pong mga pangalan ng mga artista ay huwag muna pong ilabas. 

(What he [Duterte] is doing for the country is for all of us. What we can do, what the people in the showbiz world can ask Mayor [Duterte], is not to reveal the names first.)

“Sana magkaroon muna ng diyalogo ang mga artista, ang mga manager sa PNP or kung ano mang ahensya. Ang mga artista po tandaan natin, mga tax-payers din po sila, sumusunod din po sila sa batas. Kung ano man po ang kanilang kakulangan, kung ano man ang kanilang pagkakamali, ay sana po, mapag-usapan,” he said.

(I hope there will be a dialogue first with the artists, managers with the PNP or the concerned bodies. The artists, let us remember, they are also tax-payers, they follow the law. Whatever they lack, whatever wrongs they’ve committed, I hope it can be discussed.)

Robin was also asked his thoughts on the conflict between Duterte and Senator Leila de Lima.

On this, he said: “‘Yung nangyayari po sa pangulo at sa ating senador, ang tanong po diyan eh, kung sino ang may hawak na ebidensya. Kasi sa pinag-uusapan po nila, mga public servants sila, tandaan po natin, public servants sila.

“Sila ho ay nangako, sila ay nanumpa, una sa Diyos, pangalawa sa bandila ng Pilipinas. Kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo, siya ang maglabas ng ebidensya. Hindi ito usapin kung sino ang nasasaktan, kung sino ang naapi, hindi. Ano ang katotohanan?”

(What’s happening now with regard to the President and our senator, the question is on who has the evidence. They are public servants, let’s remember.

They promised, they swore, first to God, second on the Philippine flag. Whomever is telling the truth, will come out with evidence. This is not about who was hurt, who was abused, no. What is the truth?)

He also said that he still backs Duterte despite criticism he’s been getting.

“Basta ako, sa aking palagay, walang ginagawang mali ang pangulo. Paumanhin sa inyong lahat sapagkat ako’y naniniwala hanggang sa mag oras na ito, magmula nang una ninyo akong tinanong patungkol kay mayor hanggang sa mag oras na ito, maniwala po kayo sa akin, napakabait pa ni mayor, napakabait pa po niya. Binibigyan pa niya ng pagkakataon ang mga tao na gustong magbago,” he said.

“For me, the president has not done anything wrong. Forgive me, everyone because up to now, I believe until this time, starting from the time you asked me about mayor, up to now, believe me, mayor is still good. He’s willing to give everyone a chance to change.) 

On Marcos burial 

Robin was also asked to comment about the plans to bury the late president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (READ: Palace: It’s clear Marcos is fit for Libingan burial)

“Ilan beses na inuulit ng ating mahal na pangulo kung gaano ang kahalagahan ng kabataan ngayon. Kung pagpapalibing kay Marcos, na dati po nating pangulo, huwag natin tingnan bilang politikal kasi kakawa ang mga bata. Kawawa ang mga bagong henerasyon na hindi naman nila naiintindihan kung ano ang Martial Law noon,” he said.

(The president has repeated many times how important the youth are right now. When it comes to the burial of Marcos, a former president, let’s not look at it from a political perspective because it’s the children who will get the short end of the stick. It’s not good for the new generation, many don’t understand what Martial Law was then.)

“Itong paglilibing kay Marcos ay dapat tingnan na natin ito bilang historical. Huwag na natin tanggapin ito bilang political dahil nagkakahiwalay-hiwalay tayo. Yung paglilibing kay Marcos, pag-aralan po natin. Pag-aralan natin kung sino si Marcos at ano ba ang Martial Law at kung ano ba ang nagawa niya, kung ano ang People Power…. Maging bukas ang kaisipan ng mga kabataan, bigyan sila ng kalayaan na makapagisip.”

(We should at the burial from a historical perspective. Let’s not think of it as a political item becase it is divisive. We should study the issue of the burial of Marcos. Let’s get to know who Marcos really was and what Martial Law was all about, what he did, and as well as what People Power was all about. Let the youth have open minds and give them the freedom to think.) – Rappler.com