MANILA – Sen. Robin Padilla has pushed back against claims that he raised his middle finger while singing the national anthem in the Senate, stressing that the gesture he made was not vulgar but a sacred sign of his Muslim faith.
Padilla said an image posted by Rappler falsely suggested he displayed an obscene gesture during Monday’s plenary session. The post has since been deleted, but the senator lamented the report.
“Hindi ko po malaman bakit sila gumawa ng ganito,” Padilla said in a live Facebook statement, noting that he considered the media outlet a friend.
He clarified that he extended his index finger, not his middle finger, explaining that it symbolizes the oneness of Allah.
“Gusto ko pong iparating sa inyong lahat, ito po ay banal sa aming mga Muslim, banal po ito,” Padilla said, adding that such a gesture means there are no other gods to be worshipped but Allah.
The senator warned against trivializing the act, stressing that it was far from being indecent.
“Hindi po namin puwedeng gawin na gawing kabastusan po ito. Magpapakamatay na lang po ako kung gagawin ko ‘yun. Hinihingi ko po na huwag sana natin itong gawing kalokohan dahil ito po ang pundasyon ng lahat ng pananampalataya ng Muslim,” he said.
“Kaya po kapag kumakanta ng Lupang Hinirang, kaya po ‘yan nakalagay dito, tunay na mahal namin ang bansang Pilipinas… pero una ang Panginoong Allah,” he added.
Padilla also uploaded additional images on Facebook showing another angle, which he said proved he was pointing his index finger while singing.
“Ayan po, makikita niyo po, wala po akong ginawang pambabastos sa religion namin at wala rin akong ginawang pambabastos sa ating watawat,” he said.
When urged to take legal action, Padilla said he would instead entrust the matter to his faith.
“Marami ang nagsasabi sa akin na mag-demanda ako, eh mababawasan ako ng reward. Ipagpapasa Diyos ko ito. Dahil sa aming pananampalataya, ang ibibigay mo sa Allah, siya ang magbibigay sa akin ng gantimpala at bahala na sa inyo ang Allah.”/PN
