Robin Padilla denies flashing dirty finger during singing of national anthem

Senator Robin Padilla on Thursday clarified that he did not extend his middle finger while singing the national anthem during Monday’s Senate plenary session. 

The senator called out a media report indicating that he displayed a dirty finger, which the news outlet described as a “vulgar gesture.” The social media post has since been deleted. 

“Hindi ko po malaman bakit sila gumawa ng ganito,” said Padilla in a live statement on Facebook, noting that he considers the media outlet his friend. 

(I don’t know why they did something like this.) 

“Gusto ko pong iparating sa inyong lahat, ito po ay banal sa aming mga Muslim, banal po ito,” he said as he emphasized that it was his index finger that was extended, adding that such a gesture means there are no other gods to be worshipped but Allah. 

(I want to tell everyone that this is sacred for us Muslims.) 

“Hindi po namin puwedeng gawin na gawing kabastusan po ito. Magpapakamatay na lang po ako kung gagawin ko ‘yun. Hinihingi ko po na huwag sana natin itong gawing kalokohan dahil ito po ang pundasyon ng lahat ng pananampalataya ng Muslim,” Padilla added.

(We cannot do something indecent towards this. I will just take my own life if I do that. I’m requesting everyone not to make fun of this gesture because it’s the foundation of our Muslim faith.) 

“Kaya po kapag kumakanta ng Lupang Hinirang, kaya po ‘yan nakalagay dito, tunay na mahal namin ang bansang Pilipinas…pero una ang Panginoong Allah.” 

(The reason why we sing Lupang Hinirang like this is because we truly love the Philippines, but it must be Allah first.) 

Padilla also posted images of the incident from another angle on Facebook, showing that the outstretched finger was his index finger. 

“Ayan po, makikita niyo po, wala po akong ginawang pambabastos sa religion namin at wala rin akong ginawang pambabastos sa ating watawat,” he said in the live video while showing another photo of him singing the national anthem.

(There, you can see, I did not do anything rude to our religion, and I also did not do anything rude to our flag.) 

Further, Padilla said that he would just leave the matter to Allah: “Marami ang nagsasabi sa akin na mag-demanda ako, ay mababawasan ako ng reward. Ipagpapasa Diyos ko ito. Dahil sa aming pananampalataya, ang ibibigay mo sa Allah, siya ang magbibigay sa akin ng gantimpala at bahala na sa inyo ang Allah.” 

(Many are telling me to sue, but that would lessen my reward. I will leave this to God. Because in our faith, what you give to Allah, he will reward, and Allah will deal with you.) — VBL, GMA Integrated News