Image: Instagram/@robinhoodpadilla
Action star Robin Padilla seems to be cozy around President Rodrigo Duterte, as he has been frequently seen in important functions with the latter these past couple of months.
Padilla visited President Duterte in Malacañang Palace last April to discuss rehabilitation efforts in Marawi, telling his fans that his only power is he is “friends” with the president. In the same month, Padilla was found dining with the President in Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.
Last February, Padilla popped up in Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go’s Senate hearing; Go is someone for whom Padilla has constantly and publicly expressed admiration, going as far as calling Go his “General Jacinto” of the modern day.
Yesterday, May 15, Padilla took to his Instagram page once more to share with his 780,000-strong followers pictures of him at the BRP Davao del Sur landing dock vessel of the Philippine Navy. In one picture, Padilla can be seen wearing a life vest and standing near the waters. In other photos, he showed a couple of jet skis on the dock, as well as him lying down on a bed, which may or may not be in the sleeping quarters of the ship.
Padilla also took some selfies with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Senator Win Gatchalian in the background, as they seemingly waited for President Duterte’s arrival.
“Philippine Rise is Food security,” wrote Padilla. “Relax muna tayo sa territory dispute tandaan mahirap magutom ang 100 milyon higit na Pilipino.” (Let’s relax for a while from the territory dispute. Remember, it’s hard for over 100 million Filipinos to go hungry.)
President Duterte failed to reach the Philippine Rise yesterday, May 15. As per Roque in an INQUIRER.net report, the President did not go through with his trip because “it was too far and it was not feasible for the President to visit there.”
Meanwhile, in Padilla’s latest post on Instagram yesterday, he addressed some people’s concerns, specifically why “they” didn’t go to the West Philippine Sea.
Padilla wrote, “May mga ilang nagtatanong na naman bakit hindi sa South China Sea/West Philippine Sea kami nagpunta. Mga kababayan ako ay naniniwala sa ating Pangulo sapagkat siya ay nagsasabi ng totoo. Ang ipaglaban natin sa oras na ito ay yun atin na maaari nating pag aksayahan ng ating mga resources na wala tayong makakaaway na dambuhalang bansa…”
(There are those who ask again why we did not go to South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. My fellowmen, I believe our president because he is saying the truth. What we should fight for at this time is what’s ours and for which we can spend our resources, without making enemies of huge nations.)
Padilla likened the situation with an analogy of a farmer wanting to plant crops. “… Yun lupa mo sa kanan mo ay mataba nga ngunit may mga kaagaw ka naman…” wrote Padilla. “Yun lupa mo naman sa kaliwa ay mataba rin ngunit wala kang kaagaw…”
(The land at your right is fertile, but there are other claimants. The land at your left is also fertile, and there are no other claimants.)
“Ano kaya sa dalawa ang una mong pag aksayan ng lakas, pagod, kayamanan at buhay mo yun bang trouble ang pipiliin mo ? O yun swabe na sa umpisa pa lang?”
(What between the two would you spend your strength, effort, resources and life for? Will you choose trouble? Or will you choose what’s been smooth from the start?) JB
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