Senator Robin Padilla slammed a viral photo circulating online that appeared to show him flashing a “dirty finger” during the singing of the Lupang Hinirang at the Senate session on September 8, the day Sen. Chiz Escudero was ousted as Senate President.
In a Facebook Live on Thursday, September 11, Padilla showed what he said was the unedited version of the photo, stressing that it was his index finger—not his middle finger—that he raised.
“Ito pong ganap na ito, hindi po nangyari. Meron pong larawan na tunay,” Padilla said. “Kung ako ay may pagkakamali, dapat lang banatan ako. Pero ito, wala po akong ginawang pambabastos.”
The lawmaker, who is Muslim, explained that raising the index finger holds deep religious significance, symbolizing the oneness of God.
“Ito po ay banal sa aming mga Muslim. Ibig pong sabihin nito, la ilaha illa Allah—walang ibang Diyos na dapat sambahin maliban sa Allah. Magpapakamatay na lang po ako kung gagawin ko ‘yung kabastusan na sinasabi nila,” he stressed.
Padilla appealed to the public not to believe what he called a piece of fake news, pointing out that misrepresenting his gesture was an attack not just on him but on his faith.
“Huwag po sana gawing kalokohan ang aming pananampalataya. Handa po naming ibigay ang buhay namin para sa Allah,” he said.
The viral image had been reported by some outlets, including Rappler, which later retracted the story and apologized.
“We would like to assure our Muslim brothers and sisters that there was no intention to put any sector or faith group in a bad light,” Rappler said in a statement, adding that it has since strengthened internal processes to prevent similar errors.
Padilla, a staunch Duterte ally, was among those who did not support Tito Sotto’s election as Senate President following Escudero’s ouster. Netizens initially speculated the supposed “dirty finger” was a protest gesture, which the senator firmly denied.
“Humihingi po ako sa inyo ng pang-unawa. Huwag kayong maniwala na gagawin ko po ‘yun. Magpapakamatay na lang po ako—hindi ko po ‘yan magagawa,” he reiterated.
