Padilla blames opposition for ‘baseless’ US law blocking PNP aid
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla on Tuesday blamed the opposition for the “baseless” move by United States (US) lawmakers to block the aid for the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The US House of Representatives has green-lighted amendments to a law that would hinder aid to the PNP unless actions are taken to investigate alleged human rights abuses by the police in the campaign against illegal drugs.
READ: US security aid law sets conditions to protect human rights in PH
Padilla, an Army Captain in the Reserve Force, said that uniformed personnel had upheld human rights.
Padilla was the Army Captain in the Reserve Force in 2019. In July 2020, he was elected as the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board Strategic Communication Committee chairperson.
Article continues after this advertisement“Witness ako nito sa pagiging makatao ng AFP at ng PNP… Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling sa inyo, mga mahal kong kababayan. Kung meron akong nakikitang mali na ginagawa ng PNP o AFP o anumang sangay sa gobyerno na may kinalaman sa human rights, ako po ang unang unang magsasalita at magsasabi sa inyo,” he said in an interview on Sonshine Media Network International.
Article continues after this advertisement(I have witnessed the respect the AFP and PNP show for human rights. I will not lie, my beloved fellow Filipinos. If I see human rights violations by the PNP, AFP, or any branch of government, I will call them out.)
“Pero sa tagal ko po, ako nagtrabaho mahigit isang taon sa AFP, kitang kita ko ang paggalang ng naka-uniporme sa civilian,” he continued.
(I have worked for more than a year in the AFP. I have seen how our men and women in uniform respect human rights.)
Padilla urged the opposition to stop politicking and heed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to unite.
“Hindi ko naintindihan kung saan nanggaling ito, kung saan humuhugot ang opposition sa banat-banat na puro human rights violations,” he said.
(I do not understand where this is coming from, where the opposition pulls criticisms about human rights violations.)
“Ang hinihiling lang namin sa inyo, hindi ito ang oras na maging masyado tayong mapulitika. Wala nang sinisigaw ang ating bagong Pangulo kundi unity tayo, magkaisa na tayo. Ito dinadamay na naman ninyo ang US, dinadamay na naman ninyo ang Europe. Pambihira,” he went on.
(My appeal to you is that now is not the time for politicking. Our new president has called for unity. Let us unite. And do not drag the US and Europe into your politicking. Unbelievable.)
Padilla also asked the international community what they wanted to hear, as Filipinos “overwhelmingly” supported former President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched the war on drugs, and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., adding that the voice of the people is the voice of God.
For Padilla, the Philippines is at the losing end if the world will not unite.
“Ang ating mundo ngayon talagang kung ‘di tayo magkakaisa malulugi po tayong mga Pilipino. Ito ang oras na tayo kahit magkakaiba tayo ng ating mga adhikain pero pagdating sa kapakanan ng bayang Pilipinas at kapwa nating Pilipino parang awa niyo na po, magkaisa na po tayo,” he explained.
(If we don’t unite now, we will end up as the losers. This is the time to unite despite differences in our beliefs, for the sake of our country and our people.)
Based on human rights groups’ data, around 30,000 people in the country suffered extrajudicial killings.
READ: 52 out of 30,000 deaths? Rights group disputes gov’t claims of DOJ drug war probe
However, government figures show that only over 6,000 were killed in Duterte’s drug war.
