Senator cites ‘Christian communism,’ distances from Marxist ideology as Angel questions his silence during red-tagging issue.
“Ang komunismo na aking sinabi ay ang lolo ng Komunismo ni Karl Marx.”
A lengthy post by Senator Robin Padilla explaining his claim that he is a communist was prompted by a social media post from Angel Locsin. In her post, Locsin recalled stories Padilla used to share about his younger years, including his time in the mountains carrying arms in what he believed was a fight for the country.
Padilla’s clarification came amid backlash over his earlier Senate remark, “Komunista po ako,” which drew criticism and raised questions about his political stance.
In his post, Padilla stressed that he was not referring to the Marxist-Leninist ideology commonly associated with armed communist movements. He said communism is often linked to the teachings of Karl Marx through Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong, which he described as rooted in armed struggle and conflicts such as the Russian and Chinese civil wars.
He also reflected on how these ideologies reached the Philippines and became part of its political landscape, including the period leading to Martial Law. He noted that internal divisions weakened the movement over time, while decades of armed insurgency have led to significant loss of life.
“Hindi na ito ang komunismo na aking tinutukoy,” he wrote, adding that the form of communism he once believed in is no longer what he stands for today.
Padilla said he was instead referring to earlier forms of communal systems, citing “Christian communism” and the Islamic Mu’akhat system as examples centered on shared resources and collective welfare.
In her post, Locsin referred to Padilla’s Senate statement, saying it reminded her of the person she once knew. “Sa statement mo na ’to, kahit papaano, natuwa akong makita ulit yung dating Robin Padilla na nakilala ko. At least, honest ka ngayon, Kuya,” she wrote.
However, she also raised a long-standing concern. “Ang tanong ko lang, nasaan ka nung panahong nirered-tag ako kahit alam mong hindi totoo? Actually, kasama mo pa nga at kachikahan yung mga nangre-red-tag. Naghugas-kamay at pumikit sa katotohanan,” she added.
Aside from Locsin, many Filipinos reacted to Padilla’s statement on social media. Some tried to understand his explanation, while others questioned his stance and criticized the message from a sitting public official.
Locsin and Padilla previously worked together in the 2007 GMA Network series “Asian Treasures” and the 2011 ABS-CBN sitcom “Toda Max,” where they developed a friendship that extended beyond the screen.
