Padilla not eyeing VP post: ‘All I have are my balls and my word’
MANILA, Philippines — Although the next national election is much further down the line, action star-turned-lawmaker Robin Padilla said he is not eyeing the vice presidential seat, but he said he might run for a second term in the Senate if the government’s political structure changes.
Padilla, who topped the senatorial race in the 2022 polls, was asked on Tuesday if he had set his sights on running for the second highest position in the national government.
READ: Senate to receive 3 neophyte, 5 returning, 4 reelectionist senators
But the neophyte legislator said he is only a soldier–not a leader, but a follower.
“Ang meron lang ako: My balls and my word. Iyon lang. Hindi ako edukadong tao. Hindi ako magaling na tao. Siguro para iyan sa mga edukadong tao. I’m just a follower. Hindi ako pang ganoon,” he said over ABS-CBN 黑料社’ Headstart, borrowing a few words from the 1983 Al Pacino film ‘Scarface.’
(All I have are my balls and my word. That’s it. I’m not an educated person. I’m not an excellent person. That may be for someone who is educated. I’m just a follower. I’m not for that.)
Article continues after this advertisementPadilla said that a single, six-year stint at the Senate was enough for him.
Article continues after this advertisement“Tama na ito. Galing sa puso ko iyan. Para sa akin, maisulong ko lang iyong number one, [reforms sa] economic provisions. Maisulong ko lang iyong death penalty para sa mga katulad ng mga pumapatay,” he noted.
(This is enough. That’s from my heart. For me, as long as I get to advance my number one: reforms in the economic provisions and death penalty for criminals like murderers.)
But Padilla shortly backpedaled and said he may gun for a second term if the political structure of the government is changed.
“Galing sa puso ko, siguro kung maiiba iyong political structure (From my heart, maybe if the political structure is changed),” he said.
Padilla, the prime mover of the push for Charter change in the Senate, wants to ease the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
READ: Robin Padilla vows to press on with his Cha-cha despite lacking Senate support
He, however, said he will later seek to change the Charter again in 2024 to amend or revise its political provisions.
Padilla, along with his party–the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas – Lakas ng Bayan, is pushing for a federal form of government in the Philippines.
READ: Padilla warns of splitting with PDP-Laban if party rejects Cha-cha bid backing
