Robin Padilla, 52, is an actor who most recently served as chairperson of the strategic communications arm of the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board before he resigned to run for senator.
He was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1994 and was imprisoned from 1995 until receiving a conditional pardon from President Fidel Ramos 1998. He then received an absolute pardon by his close ally President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, allowing Padilla to seek public office.
Padilla is running under PDP-Laban and urging voters to elect a Muslim senator, which has not happened since 1995.
Padilla has praised the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, calling it "most successful" and claiming that extrajudicial killings are a legitimate part of the government's anti-crime strategy.
He campaigned for President Duterte in 2016 and has remained supportive of his policies, including the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.
Padilla has been included as a guest candidate in the Senate slate of the UniTeam alliance of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late ousted dictator, and presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
He is running on a campaign of anti-criminality and cracking down on illegal drugs, shifting to federalism once local governments have been improved, strengthening businesses for the masses through cooperatives, social enterprises and other micro and small enterprises, and legislate community policing and community courts.
Padilla supports the legalization of divorce, the reinstatement of the death penalty for drug offenses and corruption, same-sex civil and the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US. He also backs the passage of an anti-dynasty measure as long as it does not impede the shift to federalism.
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
- Promote people’s self-development and training in order to improve their lives
- Building the capacity of small to medium enterprises; has vowed to push for an enterprise ecosystem that supports local businesses
- Improve the wages of employees, specifically teachers and healthcare workers
- Instead of making new laws to regulate mining and environmental protection, calls for better implementation of existing laws
- Believes that mining should be a state-owned industry, with partnerships with international mining federations and in compliance with international environmental standards; revenues from mining and use of natural resources can be used to pay off the national debt
- Focus on generating employment instead of nurturing dependence on financial aid or ayuda
- Vowed to push for government support for food producers, farmers and fisherfolk to ensure long-term food security
Supports PDP-Laban’s position on federalism
Has adopted presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s campaign motto of unity and has urged Filipinos to forget differences in faith and concentrate on the common goal of peace and progress
- Promotes people’s involvement on matters critical to national development
- Calls for people to refrain from selling their votes
- Supports gender equality and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning rights
- Pass the Security of Tenure and End Endo Act of 2018, which was vetoed by President Duterte in 2019 despite certifying it as urgent in September 2018
- Supports shifting to federalism after local governments are strengthened
- Calls to stop prioritization of development in what he and allies call “Imperial Manila” to allow better development of other regions and better prevent corruption through equal distribution of wealth
The candidate's top five accomplishments and contributions for the last 15 years or so
Public Office
Padilla was elected as chairperson of the Strategic Communication Committee to the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board in July 2020. The MSAB was established in 2010 as part of the Philippine Army’s transformation roadmap; its four committees are composed of members from the business, legal, communications and political sectors. Some critics raised his lack of qualifications and training to hold such a position, with Padilla completing a Scout Ranger Orientation Course in 2019.
He left the post after filing his candidacy for the Senate. Padilla was also relieved of active duty as a ranking ready-reserve officer of the Reserve Force of the Philippine Army.
In a February 2022 interview on his senatorial bid, Padilla claimed that Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs was “most successful” because it exposed “narco-politicians” and generals involved in the illegal drugs trade. He also said in Filipino that extrajudicial killings should not be blamed on the president since these killings happen because "when administrations change, there really needs to be a cleansing." Padilla later clarified his statements via a Facebook post, stating that EJKS are not committed by the government but by “gangsters in uniform seeking to liquidate their runners and dealers before the heat of the new administration take[s] over.”
Padilla’s defense of the Duterte administration is despite widespread allegations of human rights violations by victims’ families, human rights activists, the political opposition as well as international bodies. The International Criminal Court’s probe into such allegations was temporarily suspended while the ICC assessed the scope and effect of the administration's deferral request. Such delay has dismayed activists, urging the ICC to not allow a blatant ruse to further deprive victims and their families of a judicial recourse that domestic investigation by Duterte allies will never fully permit.
Deemed resigned after filing COC for Senate.
Private Sector
Robin Padilla is a veteran and well-known film and television actor, dubbed as the “Bad Boy” of Philippine cinema for his portrayal of anti-hero characters in action movies.
- Bato (The General Ronald dela Rosa Story) (2019)
- 10,000 hours (2013)
- Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (2000)
- Mistah (1994)
- Maging Sino Ka Man (1991)
- Anak ni Baby Ama (1990)
- Bad Boy (1990)
- Sa ngalan ng ama, ina at mga anak (2014)
- Hari ng selda: Anak ni Baby Ama 2 (2002)
- Makuha ka sa Tingin (1993)
- Canap King: The Randy Padilla Story (1989)
Founder, through the OVP
2020 to present
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
Resolved Actions and/or Proceedings
| Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Accrued Liability | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions under P.D. 186 | Charged on Dec. 3 1992 Convicted at the Regional Trial Court level on Apr. 25 1994, affirmed by the Court of Appeals on July 21, 1995 Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on Mar. 12, 1997 |
The penalty imposed was imprisonment of 10 years and 1 day, as minimum, to 18 years, 8 months, and 1 day, as maximum
Padilla was released in 1998 after receiving a conditional pardon from then President Ramos |
Padilla received an absolute pardon from his close ally President Duterte in 2016. |
Also known as SALN, this document is a declaration of one's personal finances. Philippine Law requires the SALN to be submitted by all public officials and employees to the Ombudsman. Public officials and employees may opt to voluntarily disclose their SALN to the public.
Key details about the candidate's campaign
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
- Supports the reimposition of the death penalty, for criminals convicted of illegal drugs and corruption
- Empowerment of ordinary citizens
- Continues to support the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs and to refute the accusations of human rights abuses including EJKs made against government forces
- In 2016, called for the distinction between drug users and drug pushers, saying that drug users’ names shouldn’t be released, whether they are celebrities or ordinary citizens, to avoid having their lives ruined and livelihoods lost
- In 2014, Abot-Alam, a nationwide campaign aimed at improving access to free education and livelihood opportunities for out-of-school youths. This is organized and implemented by the National Youth Commission and the DepEd in partnership with Talk ‘N Text
- In 2004, Movement Against Malaria, which aims to eradicate malaria in the country by year 2030
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
Casimero Ruiz Padilla (Mar. 4, 1926 – Jan. 17, 1988), father, former mayor of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, then vice governor and governor of Camarines Norte
Lolita Eva Cariño (Mar. 23, 1936- ), mother, retired actress
Royette Padilla, deceased, appeared in movies in the 90’s
Binibining Gandanghari, model and Uber driver
Romell Padilla, candidate for representative of the 1st District of Nueva Ecija
Mariel Rodriguez, former actress and TV host, (Aug. 19, 2010 - present)
Liezl Sicangco, former actress, (1997-2007, divorced)
Camille Orosa, chief marketing officer
Queenie Padilla, former actress
Kylie Padilla, actress
Zhen-Zhen Padilla
Ali Padilla
Maria Isabella Padilla
Maria Gabriela Padilla
• Chairperson of the Strategic Communications Committee of the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board, 2020-2021
• Actor, writer, producer, and director, 1980s-present
