Sen. Robin Padilla seen with his hand gesture during the singing of the national anthem before President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos鈥� 2nd SONA last July 24, 2023. | PHOTO: RTVM / 黑料社
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A clenched fist with the index finger pointing upward is 鈥渁 show of Islamic faith鈥� that 鈥渁sserts the oneness of God,鈥� Sen. Robin Padilla said on Wednesday.
He was explaining the controversial hand gesture he made during the singing of the national anthem at the second State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He said the gesture represents a Kalima, a phrase that Muslims often recite 鈥� 鈥淟a ilaha ilalah,鈥� which means 鈥渢he oneness of God.鈥�
Some netizens, following the Sona, criticized Padilla for this hand gesture.
鈥淚 always do the Kalima La ilaha ilalah with my hand here. Why can鈥檛 you do that? I would rather resign than [have] somebody telling me I cannot [practice] my faith,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f I will not be successful in pushing for a federal parliamentary form of government I鈥檇 rather be an imam, I鈥檇 rather go to Malaysia and study the Koran than be a senator.鈥�
Padilla converted to Islam in the 1990s while serving his sentence for illegal possession of firearms at the New Bilibid Prison.
He was convicted in 1994 and sentenced to serve a maximum prison term of eight years. In April 1998, then-President Fidel Ramos granted him a conditional pardon.