Robin Padilla’s chief of staff debunks alleged “dirty finger” during singing of National Anthem

• Senator Robin Padilla’s office clarified his hand gesture during the national anthem after some netizens mistook it for a dirty finger

• His chief of staff Atty Philip Jurado said Padilla would never do such a gesture and explained it was his index finger pointing upward

• The senator has long clarified that the gesture represents the Kalima La ilaha ilalah in Islam affirming the oneness of God

• Padilla said in 2023 that he would never give up his faith for politics and would resign if he were told not to practice it

Senator Robin Padilla’s office has addressed online speculation regarding his hand gesture during a recent national anthem ceremony at the Senate. In a video circulating online, Padilla was seen with his hand on the left side of his chest while pointing his index finger upward, which some netizens mistakenly thought was a dirty finger due to the blurry footage.

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“No dirty finger. Sen. Padilla will never do that,” his chief of staff, Atty. Philip Jurado, as reported by News5.

Padilla had previously clarified the gesture back in 2023, explaining that it symbolizes the Kalima La ilaha ilalah — an Islamic affirmation of the oneness of God. At that time, Padilla stressed that the gesture is part of his faith, declaring, “I always do the ‘Kalima La ilaha ilalah’ with my hand here. Why can’t you do that? I would rather resign than somebody telling me I cannot practice my faith. I will never, never exchange my faith to be a politician.” His hand gesture was noticed by viewers during the 2023 State of the Nation Address.

Robin Padilla is a famous action star and endorser in the Philippines. He is also the father of actresses Kylie Padilla and Queenie Padilla. Robin ran for senator in the 2022 Election. He won the race and was number one in the number of votes received among all candidates. He assumed office in the Senate on June 30, 2022. Padilla also became the president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party on July 24, 2024. Padilla also has two children named Gabriela and Isabella with his current wife, Mariel Rodriguez. He has seven children in total, four from his first wife Liezl Sicangco.

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As previously reported by KAMI, Sen. Robin Padilla posed for photos with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s cardboard standee. On his Facebook account, Padilla shared snaps showing him having breakfast in The Hague, Netherlands alongside the standee. In the caption, the actor-turned-senator jestingly said they were having a “breakfast meeting.” Duterte is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity.

In a report by KAMI last March, Sen. Robin Padilla’s vehicle was involved in an accident in the Netherlands, he revealed on Friday evening, March 21, Philippine time. Padilla shared details about the minor accident in his recent Facebook post. He showed the scene in his livestream and penned a caption where he thanked God because he and his companions were safe. He further shared some details about the minor accident.

Source: KAMI.com.gh