Senator-elect Robin Padilla. Photo from Robin Padilla’s Facebook page
The No. 1 new senator has made known his “No. 1” choice of committee.
Neophyte Senator-elect Robin Padilla said he wanted to lead no less than the Senate committee on constitutional amendments in order to restart the legislative process to overhaul the 1987 Constitution.
During his official proclamation on Wednesday as topnotcher of the Senate race, with at least 26.6 million votes, Padilla said he took his win to mean that the people believed in his “platform” for “constitutional reform.”
When interviewed by reporters afterwards, Padilla said the Senate committee on “constitutional reform” was his “No. 1” choice of committee, followed by the committee on “security and defense of the Philippines.”
‘Sayang naman’
Asked if he would be a committee member or the committee chair, the former action star said it should be the latter, as befitting his lofty status in the senatorial race: “Chairmanship, kasi kung member ka lang, sayang naman ang pagka No. 1 natin.”
He said he was aware that several attempts had been made to amend the Constitution but were “murdered” upon reaching the chamber: “Pagdating sa Senado, laging namu-murder.”
Padilla said he would continue President Duterte’s advocacy to shift to a federal system of government but would do it step by step.
“One by one ’yon, hindi puwede federal agad, mabibigla. Kailangan maging parliamentary, unicameral muna tayo (We do it one by one, we can’t immediately go federal. We have to shift to parliamentary, unicameral first),” he said.
Movie project
According to Padilla, he will complete his movie project titled “Marawi” that was shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic before he quits making films while he is senator.
In his speech after being proclaimed by Commission on Elections Chair and fellow Muslim Saidamen Pangarungan, Padilla remarked that he was the first Muslim senator after more than 30 years.
Among the seven Muslim senators in the history of the Philippine Senate were Salipada Pendatun, Domocao Alonto, Mamintal Tamano, and Santanina Rasul.
Asked by reporters what the public could expect from him as a senator, he spoke of dramatic beginnings: “Umpisa pa lang ito ng rebolusyon. Sabi ko nga sa mga supporter ko, ‘Puwede na ba kami umuwi?’ Ay hindi. Ngayon pa lang tayo, nag uumpisa pa lang tayo (This is just the start of the revolution. As I told my supporters who asked, ‘Can we go home now?’ Oh no. We are just starting.”
READ: PARTIAL, OFFICIAL COUNT: Robin Padilla still leads senatorial race