Robin Padilla has been receiving criticisms netizens who judged the actor for his statements regarding people politicizing the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Padilla called on his fellow Filipinos on his Instagram post to take action for themselves rather complaining. With the country still facing a massive amount of active cases of COVID-19, people are starting to air out their concerns and frustrations with the government’s handling of the coronavirus.
Robin posted a message for all the Filipinos who cannot understand the present situation and are supposedly politicizing the pandemic. He said that he was dismayed as some people still fail to understand that the whole world is at war against the COVID-19 while people are still struggling under the corrupt leaders and opportunist businessmen.
He articulated his dismay in his Instagram post on Monday, August 3, sharing a short clip of President Rodrigo Duterte’s press briefing, where it was announced that some parts of the country were placed in modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
The move came after medical societies made a united stand and called for an ECQ because the healthcare system was “overwhelmed”.
The actor weighed in on the division of Filipinos during this health crisis, claiming that many still do not “accept” the “war” against COVID-19.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaBRPbJT0l/
“Napakarami pa rin sa ating mga kababayan ang hindi pa rin natatanggap ang katotohanan na ang Inangbayan Pilipinas ay nasa Gitna ng Digmaan Pandaigdig laban sa covid 19 habang Hindi pa tayo nakakaangat sa laban sa kahirapan dulot ng mga mapagsamantalang mga negosyante at mga korup sa gobyerno,” he said.
He is also confused about why Filipinos cannot understand each other and slammed those people who impose a threat for a revolution.
“Laban sa mga mananakop ng ating mga isla at ngayon laban sa mga maiingay sa lipunan na kapapanganak lang sa usapin ng pagka rebolusyonaryo ay naghahamon na ng kagulohan. Hindi ko na talaga batid kung san hindi magkaintindihan ang mga Pilipino,” the actor added.
Robin then said that we are affected by the pandemic financially, but he emphasized that this is a global problem and it is not only us who are suffering. He then suggested stopping the complaints and to start finding ways to survive.
“Kayat imbes na mabuhay at magising ka araw araw sa pagrereklamo at kakabatikos ABAY kumilos ka para makatulong at mapakinabangan una ng sarili mo, mga pamilya mo at ng Inangbayan,” Robin said.
Padilla said it is not the time to politicize issues besetting the country. He asked the public to help the government, calling for Filipinos to join the military reserve forces.
“Hindi ito ang oras ng pamumulitika! Ito ang oras ng pagtulong sa gobyerno maging ano man ang kulay mo,” he said.
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” he added.
Without explanation, he encouraged Filipinos to “Join the Reservist.”
Robin also recently posted his reaction on the massive explosion in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut in which he claimed was an act of terrorism.
He compared the tragic event with the acts of terrorism in the Philippines saying that the Beirut explosion is one of the best reasons to implement Anti-Terrorism Law.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDgrsdvpUXC/
“Ito ang masasakit na ganap na dapat ay magsilbing babala at aral sa mga bansang may mataas na threat ng Terrorismo katulad ng Inangbayan Pilipinas.”
“Ngayon malinaw na sa ating lahat kung bakit kinailangang higit na maisabatas ang Anti Terrorism Law. Umabot na po sa ganito ang kalupitan ng tao sa kanyang kapwa.
Wala ng awa ang mga Terorista sa sibilyan…” he wrote.
The actor mentioned that he would rather believe American President Donald Trump’s statement that the Beirut explosion ‘looks like a terrible attack,’ despite the statement of Lebanese officials who implied that it was likely an accident.
“Tama po kayo libo libong toneladang fertilizer ang nakalagak at hindi po ito Basta na lang sasabog sigurado po may nag ignite dito para magkaganyan,” he said.
Many netizens disagreed with Robin’s claims and have been criticizing him on Twitter making his name ‘Robin Padilla’ the top trend in the Philippines.
They said that the actor was a disgrace and a hypocrite because he invalidated the cries of the Filipinos. He dubbed the concerns of people as simple complaints and even told them to take action amid the pandemic.
People said that Robin’s portrayal of Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio in his movie Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo is contradictory to his true words and actions.
Netizens said that Bonifacio is supposed to fight for the people as he was the one who started a revolution against the Spaniards. Instead, they said that Robin only tells the people to shut up and stop complaining.
They also said that Robin only used the Beirut explosion as an excuse to push for his stand for the Anti-Terror bill. They mentioned that Robin only said that because he was a die-hard Duterte supporter.
Many people claimed that Robin’s statements were extremely insensitive towards the hardworking medical workers and all the Filipinos struggling amid this pandemic. They said that they only voice out their concerns because they have the right to speak up against political injustice.
Other criticisms from the netizens are the following:
Robin Padilla, you can push for ATB all your life but please, ayaw e insinuate nga terrorist attack to sa Lebanon just to prove a point. The world's too evil already and ATB is not our redemption.
— vaninya (@neenacab) August 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/rodmagaru/status/1291347266326999040
The hypocrisy of Robin Padilla
pic.twitter.com/PA1lB3ay3j
— AJ (@aj4u__) August 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/SirRencee/status/1291353225183072257
My gosh. Robin Padilla is claiming that the Lebanon explosion was a terrorist attack just to push for his stand in #AntiTerrorismLaw pic.twitter.com/qu8VI4se3f
— Cristina (@akositinatinz) August 6, 2020
Bakit si Jennylyn Mercado ang binigyan ng payo ni Arnell Ignacio? Bakit hindi niya payuhan si Robin Padilla?
Eh si Robin ang artistang nangangailangan ng guidance and counselling.
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) August 6, 2020
Sana maintindihan ni Robin Padilla eto kahit english ang wika na ginamit. Kahit konti sana pumasok man lang sa kukote nya! https://t.co/Y52VquUFe4 pic.twitter.com/ZLbfrdaO5z
— Danny Yap (@dan4ualways) August 6, 2020
People like Robin Padilla always say that Filipinos are “reklamador”, when they don’t even come up with a single good suggestion.
Why don’t you try to acknowledge the fact that the gov’t you are so inlove with is doing a horrible job?
— Kim (@kapusongkim) August 6, 2020
KUMILOS KA ROBIN PADILLA YOU TALK LIKE A PATRIOTIC SHIT YET YOU'VE DONE NOTHING NAMAN TO DEFEND THE PEOPLE!!! I DON'T TRUST YOUR DDS ASS https://t.co/gPlaQbSXrT
— valinè not the amino acid valinè (@vhgloss) August 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/chizykeyk/status/1291341186045603840
The views and opinions expressed by Robin Padilla do not necessarily state or reflect the views and opinions of Daniel Padilla.
wala lang since trending na naman sya sa katangahan niya. -__-
— A VERY GOOD GIRL September 2023 (@knfurd) August 6, 2020
Talo ka pa ng mga kabataan Robin Padilla mabuti pa sila may gawa hindi puro kuda! https://t.co/sZUnF3Gwf5
— Jo Ocampo (@JoOcampo7) August 6, 2020
Robin Padilla nakakahiya ka. May lakas ka pa ng loob umarte bilang Andres Bonifacio pero tutol ka na nagrereklamo ang mga mamamayan? tangina ka.
— Pop Crave (@PaidCrave) August 6, 2020
Yes we do complain. Period. Kayo po ba madam kapag nainitan or nabahuan or mabagal na internet connection, you tell yourself na, "am good, nothing is wrong, everything is okay". Simple analogy na po yan. So sana gets nyo po why we do complain.
— Angelingkongsumayaw (@Angel_Aniag) August 6, 2020
Last I checked, hindi kumpirmado kung yung pagsabog sa Beruit, Lebanon ay dulot ng isang terrorism attack.
Naku naman, Robin Padilla. Out of touch ka ba sa mapait na realised ng Pilipinas?
— Queen Pinksweets
#AtinAngWestPhilippineSea (@QueenPinksweets) August 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/_babycakezs/status/1291401548342259712
Maka-Inang Bayan naman, akala mo totoo. Akala mo ganun talaga kadakila pagmamahal nya sa Pilipinas. Robin Padilla, kung mahal mo talaga ang Pilipinas, di ka patuloy na sasamba kay Duterte. Ikaw ang unang una lalaban at magsasabi na di na tama ang nangyayari. Kaso hindi eh.
—
BV£AN€
(@blane_violets) August 6, 2020
Complaints are not all the time associated with doing nothing. Alam mo yung pakiramdam na doing all your best to cooperate and help the government but they do less sa mga pangangailangan ng sambayanan? Sabihin niyo, bakit dapat hindi kami magreklamo sir Robin Padilla? https://t.co/fhXN3mCLC1
— ssa (@2PaceX) August 6, 2020
Sbi ni Robin, mgtrabaho nlng dw at wg na mgreklamo. Ano? #1 na tyo sa pnkmraming covid cases sa SE Asia, hbang prang nglalaro lng si duterte at di alam ang gngawa. Bsta, isa ka sa salarin kung bkt nging presidente yang siraulong yan. Mlaking perwisyo ang dinulot nyo sa Pilipinas.
— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) August 6, 2020