Robin Padilla: Long-term senators failed the poor, workers

Senator Robin Padilla on Saturday criticized some of his colleagues in the Senate, particularly long-serving lawmakers, accusing them of failing to deliver meaningful improvements for ordinary Filipinos.

“Kung makapagsalita ang mga paulit-ulit na nagsisilbi sa Senado at nakailang termino na parang may nagawa na sila para sa ikauunlad ng Pilipinas," Padilla said in a Facebook post.

(Some have served multiple terms in the Senate, who are speaking up as if they have done something for the country’s progress.)

"Sa panahon niyo, wala naman ding napala ang mahihirap, manggagawa, magsasaka, mangingisda, maglulupa, at iba pang manpower ng kalakal,” he added.

(During your time, the poor, workers, farmers, fishermen, landworkers, and other manpower in the economy have gained nothing.)

Padilla said that during the tenure of long-serving senators, the rich supposedly became richer, while the poor became poorer, and the middle class struggled.

“Wala pa ring maipagmamalaki ang karaniwang Pilipino. Karamihan [ay] walang bahay, hirap sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan, lubog sa utang, at nangangapa sa mahal ng kuryente, tubig, at pagkain. Lahat iyan nasa mukha niyo dahil sa haba ng naging mga termino niyo,” he said.

(The ordinary Filipino still has nothing to be proud of. Most have no homes, struggle with daily needs, are drowning in debt, and are coping with the high costs of electricity, water, and food. All of that is on your hands because of your long terms.)

The senator also said only those in government benefited from salary and benefit increases, while workers continued to struggle for wage hikes.

“Ang mga dating senador na sinasabing bihasa sa labor pero nakailang termino hanggang sa nag-retire, walang nangyari sa pagtaas ng suweldo ng manggagawa,” he said.

Padilla also cited the country’s rising debt, which he said has reached about P18 trillion, and criticized continued borrowing despite the pandemic’s end, while other countries were said to be progressing amid inflation.

“Wag masyadong magaling sa salita, lalo na ang mga matatagal na dyan, dahil wala namang napala sa inyong paulit-ulit na termino kundi pagtaas ng buwis at paglaki ng utang ng bansa," he said.

(Don’t be too eloquent, especially those who have been in office for a long time, because nothing has come of your repeated terms except higher taxes and growing national debt.)

"Tumahimik na lang muna kayo at tanggapin n’yo na mga bata kayo ng oligarko," Padilla added.

(Just keep quiet for now and accept that you are underlings of oligarchs.)

Padilla called for the passage of measures addressing wages, equal minimum pay, the death penalty, the abolition of the oil deregulation law, and lower costs of basic utilities, among other concerns.

He did not name any of the senators he was referring to.

Padilla has also drawn criticism over a Facebook post in which he cited what he believed could constitute “force majeure.”

“War/gera/digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan na nagreresulta na ng terorismo sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo, ang napipintong pagkadawit ng Pilipinas sa China-Taiwan conflict, hindi po ba ito force majeure?” he said.

(“War in the Middle East that is already resulting in terrorism in different parts of the world, and the looming involvement of the Philippines in a China-Taiwan conflict — are these not force majeure?”

The Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) earlier filed a complaint for obstruction of justice against Padilla and others before the Department of Justice over his alleged role in the escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Padilla has denied helping dela Rosa “escape,” saying the former police chief only asked for a ride out of the Senate building on May 14.

The CIDG earlier said the shooting incident at the Senate and Dela Rosa’s departure from the premises are “related.”—MCG, GMA News