Despite his lack of any legislative experience, neophyte Senator Robin Padilla said Tuesday he is confident he can lead the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, saying he is determined to shift the country to a federal system and to reinstate the death penalty—but not for poor people.
“It’s difficult if you don’t know what you’ll do, but me, I know what I’ll do,” the action star turned legislator said in Filipino.
“There are lawyers to guide me. It won’t be difficult for me. It will be difficult Padilla for the public because they will need to amend our Constitution,” he added.
Padilla said real change can only be achieved through constitutional changes, and pointed out that Presidents Gloria Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos all tried to do this. Neither of them did this because they wanted to stay in power, he added, but because they saw that Charter change was inevitable.
Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte had promised to push for a federal form of government when he was campaigning for high office in 2016, but did not pursue it when he became President.
Earlier, presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that the majority in the incoming Senate agreed to let Padilla lead the committee on constitutional amendments and revision of dodes and the committee on social justice, welfare and rural development in the 19th Congress.
Padilla has attended several briefings to prepare him for his work at the Senate, learning how a bill is passed into law, and how a committee hearing is conducted.
Padilla said he is determined to change the country’s form of government into federalism and support bills that will revive the death penalty, especially on crimes related to illegal drugs.
“I should first set up talks between the two Houses. That’s the first step. This year, this is the target,” he said in Filipino, referring to Charter change.
As for the capital punishment, Padilla said he has seen the “underworld,” which gives him the authority to talk about the issue.
Padilla was sent to jail in 1994 for illegal possession of firearms and was sentenced to a maximum of eight years, but was subsequently pardoned—conditionally by Ramos in 1997, and absolutely by Duterte in 2016.
“I saw how it is, inside and outside [jail]. Outside, I saw its victims and even inside the jail. I know how to eradicate illegal drugs,” he said.
Padilla said the death penalty should not be imposed on the poor. Instead, it should be for people who are well-off but still choose to commit a heinous crime.
“For example, if you don’t have any problems in life, if you have the money and everything but you go into drug dealing, you should be decapitated,” he said in Filipino.
The next orientation for rookie senators is set June 28 but there are no confirmed attendees yet.
