Padilla visits De Lima, assures her terrorism not part of Islam teachings

Senator Robin Padilla has assured former senator Leila de Lima that criminality and terrorism are not part of the teachings of Islam following the hostage incident at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center last Sunday.

Padilla said he visited the former lawmaker on Wednesday not as a senator but as a Muslim and a fellow Bicolano. He said he wanted to send his message that the Abu Sayyaf members who held De Lima as hostage did not act in accordance with Islam.

"Gusto ko po iparating sa kanya, kung anumang ginawa nitong Abu Sayyaf, ang nagawa nilang hindi maganda, nagawa nilang kaguluhan, terorismo, o pananakot, 'yan ay hindi katuruan ng Islam (I wanted to stress that whatever these Abu Sayyaf members did wrong, that was not the teaching of Islam)," Padilla said in a press release on Thursday.

"'Yan ang mensahe na aming pinadala kay Sen. De Lima na isang Bikolano din ako, na talagang ako ay nalungkot din at nabigla din at nagpapasalamat din po sa PNP sa aking kababayan na Igorot na naging bayani sa pangyayaring ito (That is the message I wanted to relay to Sen. De Lima who like me is a Bicolano. I was saddened and surprised over what happened. But I thank the PNP and my fellow Igorot who played the hero's role)," he added.

The neophyte senator said he discussed the possibility of home furlough for De Lima but he said Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has said the former senator chose to stay in the Camp Crame facility.

"Kaya nirerespeto natin 'yan (So we respect that)," Padilla said.

He earlier expressed disappointment over what he called the prejudice shown by policemen for referring to those behind De Lima's hostage-taking as "Muslims."

He emphasized that the word "Muslim" should not be used to identify a person, especially those who are involved in crimes or terrorism.

Azurin apologized over the "Muslim" comments made by the policemen, Padilla accepted this.

On Sunday, De Lima was briefly taken hostage by Feliciano Sulayao Jr., a person under police custody (PUPC) who was said to be a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Three PUPCs—Sulayao, Arnel Cabintoy, and Idang Susukan—were attempting to escape from the PNP Custodial Center when the hostage-taking took place. They were all neutralized by authorities.—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA News