Told it’s a ‘political suicide,’ Padilla insists Cha-cha to benefit poor Filipinos

Senator Robin Padilla presides over a hearing on Charter change in Cebu on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines YouTube

MANILA, Philippines —Despite being told that he is committing a “political suicide,” Senator Robin Padilla said he is pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha) to improve the lives of poor Filipinos.

Padilla said this during the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes hearing in Cebu on Thursday as he noted that he is advocating Cha-cha for the public.

“Ginagawa namin ito para po sa inyo. Sabi nga po ng maraming tao, ‘alam mo ‘yung ginagawa mo, Senator Robin Padilla, political suicide ‘yan para sa’yo sapagkat ang makakalaban mo diyan ‘yung mga oligarko, ‘yung mga nagko-kontrol ng negosyo sa Pilipinas. ‘Pag ‘yan ang binangga mo ay para kang bumangga sa pader,’” the neophyte senator said.

(We’re doing this for you. Many people said, “You know, Senator Robin Padilla, what you are doing is political suicide because you are fighting with oligarchs and those that control businesses in the Philippines. If you fight them, you are like fighting against a wall.”)

But, Padilla said that he and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, are not politicians.

The actor-turned-senator said they are doing public service for the 80 percent of poor Filipinos.

“Ako, sa totoo lang, kami po, nandito lang para sa inyo, para po sa 80 porysento ng aming mga kababayan,” Padilla said.

(I am here for you, for 80 percent of our fellow Filipinos.)

“Hindi po kami nagseserbisyo dito para du’n sa 20 porsyento. Kami po isinusulong po namin ito para po sa inyo para gumaan, maging maganda naman ang takbo ng buhay ng 80 porsyento ng mga Pilipino,” he continued.

(We are not in service for the remaining 20 percent. We are pushing this for you, for the lives of the 80 percent to be better.)

Padilla said the Constitution must be changed by “removing these restrictive economic provisions to allow foreign businesses to directly invest in a more conducive landscape.”

He also said he is open to political changes if that is the public’s clamor.

JPV/abc