Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla (Senate PRIB)

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla says he is willing to give his life for the Philippines in the event that regional power China "invades" the country. 

Padilla, a former action movie actor, made this declaration during a Facebook Live session late Friday, Dec. 29. The session delved on the neophyte senator's hopes and aspirations for the incoming year 2024. 

Padilla sought a civilized approach to the Philippines' West Philippine Sea (WPS) row with China, which he described as a major trading partner of the Philippines. 

"We have to feed our people (but) if China will really invade us, dying for the country is the most beautiful thing in this entire life," he said. 

"So kailangan natin to be business-minded...pero pag in-invade nyo kami we are willing to die for our country (So we need to be business-minded...but if China invades us, we are willing to die for our country)," added Padilla. 

Grabbing local headlines in recent months are the acts of aggression by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels within the WPS. 

These actions have involved water cannon attacks by the CCG and the outright ramming of Philippine boats that have been sent on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal where there is a contingent of Filipino soldiers. 

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that China's expansive nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea, which contains the WPS, was invalid.