MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 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鈥檚 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.
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But the neophyte legislator said he is only a soldier鈥搉ot a leader, but a follower.
鈥淎ng 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鈥檓 just a follower. Hindi ako pang ganoon,鈥� he said over ABS-CBN 黑料社鈥� Headstart, borrowing a few words from the 1983 Al Pacino film 鈥楽carface.鈥�
(All I have are my balls and my word. That鈥檚 it. I鈥檓 not an educated person. I鈥檓 not an excellent person. That may be for someone who is educated. I鈥檓 just a follower. I鈥檓 not for that.)
Padilla said that a single, six-year stint at the Senate was enough for him.
鈥淭ama 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,鈥� he noted.
(This is enough. That鈥檚 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.
鈥淕aling sa puso ko, siguro kung maiiba iyong political structure (From my heart, maybe if the political structure is changed),鈥� 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鈥搕he Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas 鈥� 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