Robin Padilla wants Australian Senator Janet Rice declared persona non grata

Senator Robin Padilla wants the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to declare Australian Senator Janet Rice persona non grata in the Philippines for protesting human rights abuses in the country during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s address to the Parliament of Australia.

Padilla filed proposed Senate Resolution 944, wherein he stated that Rice "engaged in unparliamentary behavior by expressing her dissent through an act of protest during the proceedings."

"As reflected in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, Senator Rice was directed 'to leave the Chamber for disorderly behavior,'" Padilla wrote.

"Resolved by the Senate, as it is hereby resolved, to condemn Australian Senator Janet Rice and to urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to declare her as persona non grata for her unparliamentary behavior during President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.'s address before the Australian Parliament in Canberra," he stated.

If Padilla's resolution is adopted, a copy of it will be furnished to the office of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo "for his information and appropriate action."

Padilla's resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules, which will decide if it will be tackled on the plenary for adoption.

Last week, Rice and three other members of the Australian Parliament staged protests against Marcos. While Marcos was delivering her speech, Rice flashed a placard bearing the message, "Stop Human Rights Abuses."

In a subsequent post on X (formerly Twitter), Rice said that it was a "shame" to invite Marcos to speak before the Parliament.

"Under President Marcos Jr, corruption in the Philippines is getting worse. There are hundreds of political prisoners and 'anti-terrorism' laws are used as legal cover for extrajudicial killings. Yet the Australian Government invited him to address the Parliament today. Shame," Rice said.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, meanwhile, protested outside the Parliament while Marcos was delivering his speech.

"While President Marcos Jr gave a speech to the parliament today, I was proud to protest in solidarity with the Australian-Filipino community outside parliament! Stop the human rights abuses!" he said on Instagram.

Australian Senators Barbara Pocock also took to X to express her displeasure about Marcos' visit to her country, while Senator David Shoebridge lamented that the Australian Parliament is "once more being used to launder the political reputation of those involved in serious human rights abuses." — VDV, GMA Integrated News