Sen. Robinhood Padilla —File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines— Recalling the ordeal of his fellow Muslim coverts, Sen. Robin Padilla made an emotional appeal for help during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Padilla talked about the struggles of Muslim converts like him when he opened the discussion on a bill that would amend the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9997).
It was one of the measures tackled during the hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities and Muslim affairs, which Padilla chairs.
“Those who have reverted to Islam are very vulnerable as they are often led astray by blind leaders — those who pretend to be Muslims but bring terrorism with them,” he said in Filipino.
Those rejected by their families after converting to Islam would go to mosques or fellow Muslims for help, but they would end up in the hands of bad people, the senator lamented.
READ: Muslim convert Robin Padilla pleads to fellow Muslims: Don’t fight gov’t
Padilla also cited his brothers in the faith who got killed in Marawi and some areas in Metro Manila like Quiapo in Manila and Pasig.
He then urged the NCMF to look after the welfare of Muslim converts, who only needed guidance and the right place to go.
“That is why I hope this proposal will not drag on any longer, and that no further conflicts will arise. Because these are your brothers and sisters,” Padilla said.
At this point, the senator had to pause, holding back his tears.
“They were looking for a place to go. Many have died, they believed in what they did, but it was wrong,” he went on.
“I hope you understand me because I am a victim of this. Many of my companions have died, and even now, there are still some of my companions who are under investigation,” he added.
In the end, the senator expressed hope for the speedy approval of the measure, reminding the commission that it should be responsible for every Muslim convert.
“Dinala nyo sa amin ang Islam. Kayo ang nagdala sa amin. Sagot nyo kami,” Padilla stressed.
“You brought Islam to us. You were the ones who brought it to us. You are responsible for us,” Padilla stressed.
* * *
NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.