Looking back at his time at the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR), actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla shared how his alma mater became the driving force behind his success.
Padilla, who earned BS Criminology degree at PCCR, was one of the main guests at the "Gabi ng Parangal Para Sa Batang 641 event" held at the Manila Hotel on Saturday, June 18.
In his speech, Padilla opened up about his imprisonment, and how it served as his motivation to strive.
“Bata pa ako talaga gusto ka na maging pulis, nagkataon lang talaga na una akong naging kriminal (When I was young I really wanted you to be a policeman, it was just a coincidence that I became a criminal first),” he jokingly said.
Padilla was convicted for illegal possession of firearms and was imprisoned in 1994.
In 1997, he was pardoned by former president Fidel Ramos, and released from jail.
Padilla was granted an absolute pardon by President Duterte in 2016.
“Nung ako ay nasa bilibid, sabi ko hindi na ako pwedeng makulong ulit. Hindi ako pwedeng maging recidivist. Kalakohan ito. Kailangan gawin ko lahat para matutunan ko ang batas (When I was in jail, I said I could not be imprisoned again. I can't be recidivist. That is nonsense. I had to do everything I could to learn the law),” he said.
Padilla went to study at PCCR as soon as he got out of the jail.
“Papa'no natin pag-aaralan ang kriminal kung papatayin natin sila, kung ikukulong natin sila. Ang pinakamagaling na pulis ay yung kriminal napagabago mo ang buhay (How are we going to study the criminal if we kill them, if we imprison them. The best cop is the one who can change the life of a criminal),” said Padilla, citing one of the lessons he learned from his professors at the PCCR.
“Sa lahat ng nandidito, napabago niyo ang buhay ko. Napakagaling ng PCCR. Ako ang testamento ng tunay na naligaw ng landas (To everyone here, you changed my life. PCCR is very good. I am the testament of those who got lost in the path of life),” he said.
Padilla underscored that one of the most important values he learned from the institution was to serve the people despite their status in life.
“Nakasama ko po lahat ng bilanggo. At sa bawat bilanggo, sa bawat kriminal, sa bawat tinatawag nila na lowest mammal — naging malinaw po sa akin na ang bawat tao ay may kabutihan at nais na magbago (I was with all the prisoners. And with every prisoner, every criminal, every so-called the lowest mammal - it became clear to me that everyone has goodness and wants to change),” said Padilla, adding all they need is a break.
“‘Yung mga first offender- lalo na yung mahirap, hindi dapat natin pahirapan. Kung sino dapat ang pahirapan natin, yung mga mayayaman, wala namang problema sa buhay, pero nagiging kriminal. SIla ang dapat nating pahirapan (The first offenders- especially the poor, we should not torment them. Who we should torment are the rich, who have no problems in life but become criminals. They are the ones we must torture),” he said.
Padilla, who topped in the 2022 senatorial race, also assured that he will do his best in the Senate.
“Marami pong nagsasabi diyan sa Senate na hindi daw po natin kakayanin, hinahamon nila ang PCCR diyan. Gusto ko pong abangan ninyo ang araw na yan — ang pag tindig ko sa Senado (Many are saying in the Senate that we can't handle it, they are challenging the PCCR there. I want you to look forward to that day - my standing in the Senate),” he said.
The PCCR awarded its alumni who won seats in the recent May elections, as well as those who took home medals from the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) on Saturday, June 18.