Padilla's 'langaw' insult draws dignified response from Ridon
Published Jul 25, 2026 02:20 am
At A Glance
- Senator-judge Robin Padilla criticizes House prosecutors Terry Ridon and Leila de Lima, questioning their stance on detained senator-judges and likening them to "a fly perched on a carabao".
- Ridon responds that Padilla's remarks are baseless and false, clarifying he made no statements on the participation of detained senator-judges and stressing that the matter rests with the Senate impeachment court.
- In a subsequent statement, Ridon emphasizes the need for a trial based on truth and fidelity to duty, while assuring full respect for the Senate impeachment court and its senator-judges.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Senator Robin Padilla (Facebook)
Senator-judge Robin Padilla's old-fashioned insult toward House prosecutors Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima earned him a dignified--but still punchy--response from Ridon.
The tit-for-tat stemmed from Padilla comments on the supposed conduct of the two prosecutors in connection with Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial.
"We take exception to the following remarks made by Senator Robinhood Padilla," Ridon said in a statement Friday, July 24, wherein he quoted action movie star-turned-senator.
“Ang ibig kong sabihin, bakit nila binabanatan ang mga nakakulong na Senator-Judge tulad ni Jinggoy at Marcoleta? Binabanatan nina Terry Ridon at Leila De Lima na bawal daw mag-participate. Anong karapatan nila sabihin ’yun sa amin?" Padilla reportedly said.
(What I mean is, why are they attacking the detained Senator-Judges like Jinggoy and Marcoleta? Terry Ridon and Leila De Lima are attacking, saying participation is prohibited. What right do they have to tell us that?)
"Para silang langaw na nakatungtong sa kalabaw! Meron na ba kayong nakitang fiscal na binabanatan ang judge?” Ridon quoted Padilla.
(They are like a fly perched on a carabao!Have you ever seen a fiscal attacking a judge.)
The old-timey phrase is used figuratively to describe someone who appears important or powerful only because they are attached to someone or something truly significant. Ergo, the fly itself is small and powerless; but by sitting on the carabao, it looks elevated.
"His remarks are without basis. They are absolutely fake news," Ridon said of "Binoy".
"With respect, had Senator-judge Padilla reviewed the interviews and statements made in the course of the impeachment proceedings, whether in the House or the Senate, he would know that I have made no statement concerning the participation of detained senator-judges," said the party-list solon.
Ridon said the issue of whether or not Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta should be allowed to participate in Duterte’s trial doesn't concern the prosecutors.
"This is a matter best left to the determination of the Senate impeachment court and the courts with jurisdiction over the detained senator-judges."
Ridon would even be more mellow in a subsequent statement in response to Padilla.
"Hangad po namin na maitaguyod natin ang paglilitis na nakabatay sa katotohanan at katapatan sa ating mga tungkulin para sa bayan at para sa katarungan," he said.
(Our aim is to uphold a trial founded on truth and fidelity to our duties for the nation and for justice.)
"Muli, tinitiyak po namin ang lubos na paggalang sa Senate impeachment court at sa ating mga senator-judges," he further said.
(Once again, we assure our utmost respect for the Senate impeachment court and our senator-judges.)