Senator Robin Padilla clarified his recent remarks on communism on Thursday, stating he meant values of equality, solidarity, and equitable resource sharing rather than the ideologies linked to armed rebel groups.
In a press release, Padilla noted that certain sectors misconstrued his comments. He drew a sharp contrast between the revolutionary dogmas advocated by Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong and the historical principles centered on mutual aid, fraternity, and communal living.
The explanation follows Padilla’s declaration that he viewed himself as a communist, which he made while interrogating a witness during the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The lawmaker pointed out that Marxist-Leninist and Maoist philosophies triggered armed rebellions, civil unrest, and bloodshed globally.
He noted that these specific ideologies eventually took root in the Philippines, fueling an insurgency spanning over five decades that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Filipinos, particularly young individuals.
However, Padilla emphasized that this violent interpretation of communism did not reflect his intended meaning.
He explained that he was pointing toward ancient traditions of collective aid and fair resource distribution. As examples, he cited Christian Communism seen in early religious communities, alongside the Mu’akhat system established by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina, where community members shared assets to foster brotherhood.
”My position is against violence and armed struggle. What I am referring to is the spirit of brotherhood, compassion for others, and social justice that had long been practiced by early Christian and Muslim communities,” Padilla said.
The senator maintained that his perspective aligns with his Islamic faith, his duties as a Philippine Army reservist, and his advocacy for terminating the nation’s long-running internal conflict.
Padilla added that permanent societal progress cannot be achieved through armed conflict, but must rely on national solidarity, reverence for life, and collective effort toward a just and peaceful nation.
His clarifying statement came in the wake of public criticism from award-winning actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin, who utilized social media to question his past silence regarding controversies linked to her while urging the lawmaker to reevaluate his political views.