Robin Padilla Withdraws from Public Office Ambitions, Seeks Peaceful Life

Senator Robin Padilla announced on Friday that he no longer has plans to run for public office, stating his desire for a peaceful life. In a Facebook post, Padilla expressed, “My children are still young, and I dream and long for a peaceful Islamic life,” adding that it is clear he does not belong in politics. Padilla’s statement comes days after the Department of Justice issued a subpoena in connection with a complaint filed against him for obstruction of justice. The complaint stems from allegations regarding Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate amid an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Padilla maintained he did not help Dela Rosa escape, asserting his colleague merely hitched a ride in his car. He also named his preferred running mates for Vice President Sara Duterte, including Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, and former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo. Padilla thanked his friends and supporters, reiterating, “It is clear that I do not belong in this kind of world.” His political career, transitioning from actor to senator, has often been a subject of public discourse. Source: GMA News Philippines