I found myself seated beside Robin Padilla and his bride on a flight to London. I was lost in translation once more. How do I strike a conversation with a fabulous movie star? 

Robin and his wife had few moments of peace during the flight. Fans, including my nieces, asked to have their pictures taken with them. I stole a few glances at the couple as I thought of his meteoric rise to stardom and his power to stay at the top despite major odds. He was convicted of illegal possession of firearms and jailed for several years. When granted with a conditional pardon by  President FVR, and an absolute pardon by President Duterte, his followers welcomed him with adulation.

So, I thought it was worth my while to listen to his interview with Ms. Karen Davila. If elections were held today, he would be elected as Senator.   It was interesting to find out what he would bring to the Senate.

He is hooked on federalism. Citing “Imperial Manila,” he stresses the importance of bringing food to every table and generating employment especially in the countryside. Asked how he would succeed since even the President failed to go federal, he implied that he would lead the Senate debates. In his mind, the Senate was responsible for blocking the shift to federalism.

He easily reminds me of Al Pacino.  Like Al Pacino, in the movie  “Justice for All” he says “Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng tao” with great conviction.   If he were on stage, I imagine that this would move many of his fans to tears. His plan for action- “Gibain ang minimum wage”--Do away with the minimum wage—and increase the level to P25,000.    Asked to define what is fair, he explains the importance of  an  “average.” He finds it difficult to appreciate why the minimum wage differs by region and why the Senate finds it difficult to raise salaries that workers propose.

His plans for reviving the economy bank on encouraging foreign investments. He exclaims, “Goodness gracious,” comparing the Philippines with other countries like Vietnam that have opened their doors to foreign investments. When reminded by Ms. Davila that laws have been passed to open several sectors to foreigners, he maintains that salaries should have been part of the legislation. He is unclear on how to bring foreign investments to the country and is averse to giving them tax incentives.

He is mum on the  Blue Ribbon Committee’s findings on the anomalies involved in the PPE procurement. He explains that overpricing was a common problem due to supply issues during the pandemic. He was leaving it to the NBI to investigate the allegations that were made.    When asked whether he would be interested in becoming a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee if elected, he demurred since he is not a policeman or a lawyer. “Makikihalo pa ako”—there is no sense joining the fray.    But he prides on finishing a degree in Criminology and took credit in the “Robin Padilla” Law he crafted with former Senator Ramon Revilla. According to him, the law changes the processes of possessing illegal firearms. When reminded that lawmaking requires painstaking processes and spending sleepless nights on studies and research, the matinee idol says with confidence,“Kayang-kaya”---Trust me, I can do it. He observes that the public has had several years of lawyers legislating laws, and it is about time to try a Robin Padilla.

If elected, his priority would be to sit in the Oversight Committee to assess how laws are implemented. His advocacy for efficiency in policy implementation would sit very well with his audience.

He is an ardent admirer of the President and considers him “pinakamahusay” (the greatest). He describes himself as a “loyalist” and would follow what Mr. Duterte would say. He believes that EJK is part and parcel of the fight against drugs, and an “iron fist” and “cleansing” are needed for the campaign to succeed. He even cites the hero Andres Bonifacio as the first EJK victim. 

His advice to his son-in-law and probably other husbands suspected to be unfaithful, “Mag-Muslim kayo.” –(Become a Muslim).

He ends his interview with his virtues. He does not indulge in cockfighting and POGO. To Ms. Karen, he says, “I love you, Ma’am.”

I am afraid that flattery could get him everywhere, even to the Senate.

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