ACTOR and senatorial candidate Robin Padilla met with Cebu’s Muslim leaders and barangay officials on Saturday, March 26, 2022, in order to speak to them concerning his platform for governance.
Padilla, who is a guest candidate of Uniteam of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio, wants to push for a change in the country’s form of government under federal system.
In an interview with reporters on Saturday, Padilla said he wants to continue the programs of President Rodrigo Duterte even as his term is set to end on June 2022.
He also hopes to bring back Muslim representation to the Senate. The last Muslim to serve as senator of the country was former senator Santanina “Nina” Rasul who served from 1987 to 1995.
“Kase ang mga tao umaasa, umaasa sila ng change, umaasa sila na umayos yung buhay nila. Sana maging totoo na tayo, wala nang ibang pwedeng mag bigay ng change sa atin palitan na natin ang form of government,” Padilla added.
(The people are hoping for change. They are hoping to change their lives for good. Let us be true to ourselves. There is nothing that can change our system unless we change our form of government).
He also denied that a change to a federal system of government could only favor richer provinces like Cebu.
Though he admits that Cebu could benefit from a federal system, Padilla believes the national government can always assist smaller provinces in order for them to develop economically.
He also supported Duterte’s signing of Republic Act 11659 or the Public Service Act which would allow up to 100 percent foreign ownership of public services in the country.
For Padilla, Duterte’s move aims to further improve public services in the country.