Film actor and senatorial candidate Robin Padilla has publicly admitted to "admiring" Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Not only that, Padilla said that he even tells his wife, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla about his admiration for the so-called "Eagle of Mindanao".
Padilla and vice presidential bet Duterte-Carpio were both on stage at Eriguel Covered Court in Sta. Barbara, Agoo, La Union Friday, Feb. 18 when the popular Muslim movie star made the revelation.
"Ito pong taong ito, ipinaglalaban po tayo. At ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat po ng mga Ilocano, sa lahat po ng mga tiga-La Union, sa lahat po ng mga katulad ninyo na nagbibigay ng napakainit na pagtanggap sa nag-iisang mayora (This person truly fights for us. And I want to thank all of the Ilocanos, to everyone from La Union, to all of you who have warmly received the one and only lady mayor)," he said.
The 52-year-old Padilla continued: "Na akin pong tinitingala dahil tunay po na itong alkalde na ito ay independent woman (Whom I look up to because this mayor is truly an independent woman)."
"Yan po ang ipinagmamalaki ko kahit sa asawa ko. Sinasabi ko po kay Mariel na ako ay tagahanga ng alkalde na to sapagkat siya'y may sariling decision (I say that proudly even to my wife. I tell Mariel that I am an admirer of this mayor because she makes her own decisions)," Padilla said, referring to his 37-year-old wife.
Later as he made his campaign pitch, Padilla told the audience that since 1995, there has been no Muslim senator in the Philippines. As such, he asked the crowd to "not forget him" when they cast their #MatalinongBoto2022 on May 9, 2022.
Padilla, known as the "bad boy" of Philippine cinema, coverted to Islam in the mid-90s amid a stint in prison for charges of illegal possession of firearms.
He joked to the La Union crowd that he didn't choose to be a Muslim just so he could have "multiple wives".
"Pwede naman ho tayong humanga di ba po? (But I can still admire people, right?)" Padilla said, although at this point, he was no longer specifically talking about Duterte-Carpio.
Also present at the campaign sortie was La Union 2nd district Rep. Sandra Eriguel, the Lakas-CMD provincial chairperson. She claimed that Duterte-Carpio was considered an "idol" of local despite being from the other side of the country.
"Isang karangalan na ipakilala ang nag-iisang idol nating lahat. Isa pong mayor ng Davao City na tinitingala sa leadership po. Dito po sa La Union ma'am, lalung-lalo na po dito sa second district, kahit wala po si BBM na kasama niyo ngayon, naka-100 percent support po kami sa inyo (It is an honor to introduce to you our one and only idol. A mayor from Davao City whom we look to because of her leadership. Here in La Union, especially here in the second district, even if BBM isn't with you right now, we support you 100 percent)," Eriguel told the lady mayor.
Duterte-Carpio, 43, is the eldest daughter of incumbent President Duterte.
She is running alongside Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Bongbong Marcos in the upcoming polls. She has been campaigning for Padilla as of late.