Former Senator Ping Lacson had reminded Senator Robin Padilla to respect the law after the latter made a controversial hand gesture while singing the national anthem at the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2023.
Padilla became controversial when he was spotted putting his hand on his chest with a clenched fist while pointing his index finger instead of the correct hand gesture that the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines stated.
In his post, Lacson told Padilla that the law must be followed whatever their religious faith was.
“He may have meant well but the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines mandates reverence and respect at all times for the flag and anthem. Sorry, RA 8491 has nothing to do with choosing between faith and politics,” said Lacson.
He may have meant well but the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines mandates reverence and respect at all times for the flag and anthem. Sorry, RA 8491 has nothing to do with choosing between faith and politics. https://t.co/aLk5cMS47h #manilabulletin via @manilabulletin
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 27, 2023
The Filipino lawmaker defended the said gesture, saying that he was performing “Kalima La ilaha illallah” while showing respect at the national anthem at the same time.
According to Padilla, he made that gesture to show his faith to Islam.
He was also ready to leave his position if he would be barred from doing the same gesture again.
“I always do the ‘Kalima La ilaha ilalah’ with my hand here. Why can’t you do that? I would rather resign than somebody telling me I cannot (practice) my faith,” said Padilla.
“I will never, never exchange my faith to be a politician,” he added.
“Kalima La ilaha illallah” was a practice in Islam to show that they believed that there’s no God but Allah.
Padilla said that he would rather choose to become an ‘imam’ or a prayer leader of a mosque than being a senator.