Film actor-turned-politician Robin Padilla topped the recently concluded senatorial race, garnering a total of 26,612,434 votes – the most among the 36 senatorial candidates.
Padilla was among the 12 incoming senators proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), convening as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), on Wednesday.
During the proclamation, Padilla expressed gratitude to the military, police, and teachers as well as COMELEC, for securing an honest and peaceful election season.
“Isa pong karangalan para sa akin na mapabilang sa isang halalan na nagpapakita ng isang napakalinis na halalan,” he said.
He also thanked Muslim and Christian communities for his electoral success, citing it as a symbol of interfaith unity.
Padilla is the first Filipino Muslim to be elected into Senate after 27 years, following former Sulu senator Santanina Tillah Rasul who held a senatorial post from 1987 to 1995.
Padilla strongly called for Muslim Filipino representation in upper Congress during his campaign.
Padilla thanked non-Muslim voters for their support, saying “Lahat po kayo, ipinakita niyo ang pagbubuklod nating mga Pilipino at inyo pong itinaas ang mga kapatid ninyong Muslim sa matagal nang panahon ay humihingi ng pansin”.
Padilla also urged the newly elected and incumbent senators to consider significant constitutional reforms.
In keeping with COMELEC’s tradition of introducing the top senatorial candidate during their proclamation, Chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan introduced Padilla as a strong proponent of good governance even prior to the elections.
Pangarungan referred to Padilla’s win as “an overwhelming testament to the trust and confidence that the Filipino voters have reposed in him”.
“His political career has only begun but his interest and knowledge in politics has long been established,” Pangarungan added, citing Padilla’s involvement in lobbying for legislation to secure the tenures of contractual laborers.
Pangarungan, who is Muslim himself, shared “As a Muslim brother, we share common advocacy for safeguarding the welfare of every Filipino including the underprivileged and the marginalized in our Muslim population. I am proud that prior to entering politics, he is always ready to provide much-needed help to the sector as vulnerable as ours”.
Padilla ran under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and as a guest senator in the Marcos-Duterte Uniteam line-up.
Both President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, presumptive vice-president, Sara Duterte extensively endorsed Padilla during the campaign period.
