Robin Padilla apologizes to Ridon for misquote in TV interview

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla on Saturday apologized to House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon on Saturday after wrongly quoting him in a TV interview where he discussed the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

During the interview, Padilla criticized House prosecutors for presenting witnesses with court cases during Vice President's impeachment trial. He said if this were the case, some senators who have ongoing cases and are currently detained should also be allowed to participate.

“Ang ibig kong sabihin, bakit nila binabanatan ang mga nakakulong na Senator-Judge tulad ni Jinggoy [Estrada] at [Rodante] Marcoleta?... Binabanatan nina Terry Ridon at Leila De Lima na bawal daw mag-participate. Anong karapatan nila sabihin ’yun sa amin?" said Padilla during the interview.

(I mean, why are they attacking the detained Senator-Judges like Jinggoy and Marcoleta?... Terry Ridon and Leila de Lima are attacking them, claiming they aren't allowed to participate. What right do they have to tell us that?)

Ridon, however, immediately denied making such comments.

"With respect, had Senator-Judge Padilla reviewed the interviews and statements made in the course of the impeachment proceedings, whether in the House or the Senate, he would know that I have made no statement concerning the participation of detained Senator-Judges," said Ridon.

(With respect, had Senator-Judge Padilla reviewed the interviews and statements made in the course of the impeachment proceedings, whether in the House or the Senate, he would know that I have made no statement concerning the participation of detained Senator-Judges.)

"His remarks are without basis. They are absolutely fake news. We have the highest respect for the Senate Impeachment Court and our Honorable Senator-Judges, including Senator-Judge Padilla," he added.

Padilla then admitted making the mistake and made apologized to Ridon on his Facebook page.

"Isang pampublikong paumanhin kay Congressman Terry Ridon at sa SMNI. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin kay Congressman Ridon. Ang kanyang pangalan ang una kong naalala dahil sa pagkakaalam ko ay nagmula rin siya sa progresibong grupo o leftist movement na katulad ko," said Padilla in a Facebook post.

(A public apology to Congressman Terry Ridon and SMNI. I apologize to Congressman Ridon. His name was the first one that came to mind because, to my knowledge, he also comes from a progressive group or the leftist movement, just like me.)

"Ako po ay humihingi ng pasensya. Nais kong linawin na si Congressman Joel Chua pala ang tunay na nagpahayag ng naturang komento, at nagkaroon lamang ako ng kalituhan sa name recall dahil galing po sa pagiging leftist ko ang talakayan sa SMNI program kaya po Ikaw ang unang pumasok sa isip ko," Padilla explained.

(I would like to apologize. I wish to clarify that it was actually Congressman Joel Chua who made that comment; I simply got confused regarding the name because the discussion on the SMNI program stemmed from my background as a leftist, so you were the first person who came to mind.)

On Saturday morning, Ridon accepted Padilla's apology.

"Maraming salamat Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla sa inyo pong pahayag. Hangad po namin na maitaguyod natin ang paglilitis na nakabatay sa katotohanan at katapatan sa ating mga tungkulin para sa bayan at para sa katarungan," he said.

(Thank you very much, Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla, for your statement. We hope to uphold a trial grounded in truth and fidelity to our duties—for the nation and for the sake of justice.)

"Muli, tinitiyak po namin ang lubos na paggalang sa Senate Impeachment Court at sa ating mga Senator-Judges," added Ridon.

(Once again, we assure you of our utmost respect for the Senate Impeachment Court and our Senator-Judges.)

Padilla has been critical of the House prosecutors, accusing them of being "one-sided" during the impeachment trial. He also told them on Friday, that their job is "not to win but to seek the truth."

Ridon has rejected Padilla's one-sided claims.

“Ang totoo naman, hindi one-sided ang prosecution kasi magkaiba ang treatment sa mga witnesses at sa ating mga kagalang-galang na senator-judges na may kinakaharap na usapin,” said Ridon.

(Truthfully, the prosecution is not one-sided because witnesses and our honorable senator-judges who are facing separate issues are treated differently.) —VAL, GMA News