Robin Padilla Fires Back at 'Tuta ni Duterte' Label: 'Loyalty Is Not a Crime — Look at Emilio Jacinto'

Senator Robin Padilla is tired of being called a "tuta" — and he's not going to take it anymore. The actor-turned-senator addressed the persistent "tuta ni Duterte" and "sunud-sunuran" labels thrown at him by critics during a Facebook Live session, comparing his loyalty to former President Rodrigo Duterte to none other than Emilio Jacinto's devotion to Andres Bonifacio.

"'Yon pong sinabi ko, ibig pong sabihin noon ay loyal ka. Kung papaanong naging loyal si Emilio Jacinto kay Andres Bonifacio... masakit nga lang dahil itong mga loyal na ito ay sila 'yong laging nasasakripisyo," Padilla said. The Katipunan comparison raised eyebrows, but it's vintage Robin — bold, emotional, and completely unfiltered.

Padilla doubled down by boasting about Duterte's approval ratings, which he said reached the 90 percent mark during his presidency. He also noted that the Duterte "brand" is recognized internationally — in the US, Russia, and China. "Ito ay ideology. Kapag sinabi po nating 'ideology,' ito po 'yong tao na mayroon talagang pagbabago na dinala sa bansa natin at naramdaman nating lahat," the senator declared.

But Padilla was careful to draw a line. While his personal loyalty lies with Duterte, he stressed that his oath of office is to the Filipino people — and that distinction matters. "Syempre ang loyal ko, nandoon sa leader ko. Pero ako ay magte-take ng oath sa bayan, iba po 'yon. Magkaiba po 'yon," he clarified.

The statement comes at a politically charged moment. Duterte's ICC confirmation hearing starts Monday, VP Sara Duterte just declared her 2028 presidential run, and the EDSA anniversary is on Tuesday. For Padilla, the "tuta" label is a badge of loyalty. For his critics, it's a sign that the senator can't separate personal allegiance from public duty. Either way — Robin Padilla being Robin Padilla is never boring.

Source: PhilNews