Robin thanks Kris Aquino for helping him win in Eleksyon 2022

Senator-elect Robin Padilla on Sunday expressed his gratitude to TV personality Kris Aquino who he said was instrumental in his victory in the May 2022 elections.

"Maraming nagtatanong at nagtataka kung bakit napakataas ng boto ko at kung paano ako nag number one. Walang nakakaalam na may boto rin ako galing sa kampo ng mga Aquino," Padilla wrote on Facebook.

(A lot of people have been asking and wondering how I became number one in the senatorial race. No one knew I also had a vote from the Aquino camp.)

He said Kris Aquino, daughter of the late President Corazon Aquino and slain senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., "delivered the Aquino vote for me."

"Maraming-maraming salamat Ms. Kris Aquino. Ang ating pagiging magkaibigan ay hindi naapektuhan ng pulitika bagkus ito pa ang nagbuklod sa atin. Hinding-hindi kami makakalimot," said Padilla.

(Thank you very much Ms. Kris Aquino. Our friendship is not affected by politics but instead it made our bond stronger. We will never forget.)

Help in campaign

Padilla, an actor before seeking an elected position, said Kris helped his campaign by contacting governors and other local government officials who are allies of the Aquinos.

This, Padilla said, was despite him being part of UniTeam, which fielded former senator and now President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as its standard bearer in the May elections.

The Marcoses are political rivals of the Aquinos.

"Hindi kailanman naging isyu sa kanya na Uniteam ako, nagtataka ang mga nakakausap niya kung bakit ako nilalakad sa kanila pero sinasagot lang niya ito ng basta pls help Robin for me," Padilla said.

(It was never an issue for her that I was part of Uniteam. People around her wondered why is she helping me, but her response was please help Robin for me.)

Vows to visit

Padilla, meanwhile, vowed to visit Kris in the United States where she is seeking treatment for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare and life-threatening disease.

"Andito lang palagi kami ni Mariel para sa iyo at kapag ako'y nagkavisa sa US of A dadalawin ka namin at personal na magpasalamat sa iyo," he said, referring to his wife.

(Mariel and I are always here for you and when I get a visa for the US of A we will visit you and personally thank you.) —KBK, GMA News