Robin Padilla on Friday defended Sen. Bong Go after the latter earned flak in stating, during a speech, that Lapu-Lapu was a Tausug.
On Tuesday, April 27, Sen. Go was a guest speaker in the 500th commemoration of the Battle of Mactan held in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where he shared a different version of the historical event.
To justify his good friend, Padilla, in a facebook live, said that Sen. Go’s version of Lapu-Lapu was from the Muslims, not the Westerns.
“Tinindigan niya yung kwento na si Lapu-Lapu ay isang Muslim. At masasabi ko na ang bersyon na yan, yan ang bersyon nang mga Muslim, Islamic Version. Meron din siyempre na Western version,” said Padilla.
“Dyan pumapasok yung aking mahal na mahal na propesor,” he added.
The professor Padilla is referring to is Danilo Gerona, a notable historian whom he texted to inquire what is the truth behind the historical event.
Gerona, through a text message relayed by the actor, implied that Sen. Go quoted Abraham Ibarani-Idjirani’s version because of him being a politician.
“Sa palagay ko hindi academic issue yun. Ibig sabihin statement yun ng isang politician at hindi official statement na galing sa eksperto para hindi masyadong seryosohin ang sinabi niya,” said Gerona which was shared by Padilla during his FB live.
As per Gerona, there were actually records of Muslims living in Mactan during Lapu-Lapu’s time. However, no evidence has suggested that the sultan was a Muslim.
“Actually, sinabi ko talaga na meron Muslim community sa Mactan. Sabi sa ilang records, although hindi sinasabing Muslim si Lapu-Lapu. Ito ay base sa mga ulat ng mga espanyol,” said the historian through text.
And to further defend the senator, Padilla argued that Sen. Go was not a politician, but a public servant.
“Hindi siya politician, isa siyang public servant. Katunayan, yung mga nandyan na mga senador, karamihan dyan, their profession is being a politician. Pero si Sen. Bong Go, he is not a politician. His heart is a public servant.”
Responding to a comment, Padilla even stressed that everyone is entitled to their own point-of-view.
He argued that since everyone criticizing the senator was not physically there during the historical event, no one can prove the hero of Mactan’s lineage.
“Sino ba ang sinungaling? Wala… Walang sinungaling dito, kanya-kanyang point of view doon. Dahil pare-pareho naman tayong wala doon. Wala ho tayo lahat doon. Hindi nga natin alam kung si Lapu-Lapu may kasamang babaeng warrior ‘yun eh,” he argued.
“Wala pong mali sa narrative nang ating mahal na professor, narrative na sinabi po nang aking mahal na kaibigan na si Senator Bong Go,” he added.
Padilla believes that Bong Go is not at fault.
The actor even noted that the Spaniards were conquered by the Muslims for 800 years.
“Eh, sa loob ng 800 years they were ruled by the Muslims! They fought the Muslims! They kicked out the Muslims!”
Recently, the actor was punned after he claimed that militias were responsible for protecting state forces.
He also challenged the senators opposing Pres. Duterte to join him in defending the West Philippine Sea.
