Robin Padilla reminisces about day Duterte gave him absolute pardon

Image: Instagram/@robinhoodpadilla

Action star Robin Padilla could not help but reminisce as November, after all, is the month wife Mariel Rodriguez gave birth to their daughter Isabella and President Rodrigo Duterte granted him absolute pardon—a milestone in his life that Padilla called his “rebirth” in a post.

In an Instagram today, Nov. 15, Padilla shared a report of his being granted absolute pardon on the same day two years ago. The report showed a picture of him proudly standing beside Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go in Malacañang Palace.

“Ang araw na ito ay paggunita sa pagsilang ng aking bunso na si maria isabella sa NinunongBayan ng estados unidos de Americas at ang aking pangalawang pagsilang sa Inangbayan Pilipinas,” Padilla said. “Allah hu Akbar! Ang Allah ang Dakila! God is Great!”

It was back in 1994 that Padilla was convicted of illegal possession of firearms. He was sentenced to a maximum of eight years in jail, but was released after more than three years following a conditional pardon by former President Fidel V. Ramos.

In his post, Padilla referred to Duterte and Go when he said, “Wala ng tatalo sa pakikipagkaibigan ng mga taong ito. Napakapersonal ng mga taong ito. Isang karangalan ang magsilbi sa dalawang tao na ito sapagkat silay mga taong diretso at walang paligoy ligoy.”

He also used his platform to maintain his opposition to the recent Supreme Court ruling that drops Filipino and Panitikan as  college core subject.

As per Padilla, he does not believe “tatay Digong” will allow the removal of Philippine Literature in college.

He maintained his staunch support for the President, saying that he believes in the “revolution” in Davao.

“A’koy solid na solid na DUTERTE VOLUNTEER! Wala akong bayad o pangarap sa politika kundi pag ibig lamang sa Dios! sa Inangbayan at sa kapwa tao.”

Duterte told the press back in 2016 that he granted Padilla absolute pardon based on the recommendation of the Board of Parole of the Department of Justice. He stated that he granted the pardon in favor of Padilla since his original pardon by Ramos did not constitute the full restoration of his political and civic rights.

Padilla, then, could not vote and travel, and this was the reason why he was not able to fly to the United States for the birth of his daughter.

“Alam mo yung crime na yan walang nasaktan,” Duterte said then in defense of Padilla’s crime. “I mean if it is a gun, just like the knife, if it is sharp it is potentially sharp, ilagay mo lang sa lamesa yan, hindi mo galawin hindi naman nakaka ano yan.”  /ra

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