Senator-elect Robin Padilla hailed Filipino voters on Wednesday for returning a Muslim to the Senate.
Padilla, who won the most votes for senator in Eleksyon 2022, claimed his victory represented the country’s harmony between Christians and Muslims.
“Ang akin pong pagkapanalo ay isa pong simbulo ng pagkakaisa ng mga Muslim at Kristiyano. Sa loob po ng matagal na panahon, halos umabot po ng 30 taon, wala pong Muslim ang naging senador na,” Padilla said.
“Ako po’y nakiusap na sana mabigyan niyo ng pagklakataon ang inyong mga kapatid na mabigyan ng representasyon sa Senado,” he added.
Robin Padilla finished his statement by singing parts from the Eric Clapton tune, which he sang at campaign rallies.
“Bilang panghuling salita po, dahil dalawang minute lang ‘to, gusto ko pong malaman niyo na it’s late in the evening. I feel wonderful tonight. Maraming salamat po,” the actor said.
Robin Padilla received 26,612,434 votes in the 2022 national and local elections, according to the National Board of Canvassers’ most recent partial and official vote tally.
The chairperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Saidamen Pangarungan, who presented Padilla with his certificate of proclamation, praised the new senator’s accomplishment.
“As a Muslim brother, we share a common advocacy in safeguarding the welfare of every Filipino, including the underprivileged and the marginalized and our Muslim population,” Pangarungan said.
“I am proud that before entering politics, he’s always ready to provide much needed help to a sector as vulnerable as ours,” he added.
Robin Padilla thankful a Muslim back to Senate after 30 years
In addition to the actor, the following senatoriables made the “Magic 12”:
- Loren Legarda – 24,264,969 votes
- Raffy Tulfo – 23,396,954 votes
- Sherwin Gatchalian – 20,602,655 votes
- Francis “Chiz” Escudero – 20,271,458 votes
- Mark Villar – 19,475,592 votes
- Alan Cayetano – 19,295,314 votes
- Miguel Zubiri – 18,734,336 votes
- Joel Villanueva – 18,486,034 votes
- JV Ejercito – 15,841,858 votes
- Senator Risa Hontiveros – 15,420,807 votes
- Jinggoy Estrada – 15,108,625 votes
Senators Bong Go, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, and husband and former Senate President Manny Villar are among those who attended the proclamation.
Escudero’s wife, Heart Evangelista, and Gatchalian’s girlfriend, Bianca Manalo, also attended the celebration.
Tulfo, for one, promised to deliver justice to Filipinos by addressing issues that frequently arose on his famous radio show.
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