“It is a show of my Islamic faith.”
Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla, thus, defended on Wednesday, July 26, the "Kalima La ilaha ilalah" hand gesture he showed during the singing of the Philippine National Anthem at the Laurel room of the Philippine Senate building.
On Monday, July 24, Padilla became viral on social media for his hand gesture during the singing of the National Anthem before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Padilla, in a meeting with visitors from Malaysia, said he values his faith over everything else, adding he had shown this gesture every time he sings the National Anthem.
"I always do the 'Kalima La ilaha ilalah' with my hand here. Why can't you do that? I would rather resign than somebody telling me I cannot (practice) my faith," he said, referring to the hand gesture that asserts the oneness of God.
He added: "I will never, never exchange my faith to be a politician.”
According to Padilla, he is willing to resign his political post than allow someone to tell him he cannot practice his faith.
"If I will not be successful in pushing for a federal parliamentary form of government I’d rather be an imam, I’d rather go to Malaysia and study the Koran than be a senator," he added.