Veteran action star Robin Padilla has asked Malacañang not to release their alleged list of celebrities involved in drugs — at least not without a dialogue first.
In an interview with InterAksyon, Padilla said, “‘Yun pong mga pangalan nung mga artista ay wag muna pong ilabas. Sana magkaruon muna ng dialogue ho ang mga artista, ang mga manager sa PNP (Philippine National Police) o kung anu mang ahensya, sapagkat ang mga artista po — tandaan po natin — mga taxpayers din ho sila. Sana po mabigyan sila ng puwang dahil sila po ay biktima rin.”
(The names of the celebrities should not be released just yet. I hope the celebrities and their managers will have a dialogue with the PNP or whatever agency, because we should remember artists are taxpayers, too. I hope they will be given some space because they are victims, too.)
In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Padilla explains that he hopes this issue could get “sorted out in a more diplomatic way.” He also added that hhis appeal to the president only covers drug users and not drug pushers.
“I am not talking about the pushers — they don’t have a place in this industry. I’m more concerned about the users, because I know that they are the victims here… I cannot speak on behalf of these celebrities. I also don’t know how they will accept this news from the President. I will not be surprised if most of them would say this is a violation of their human rights,” Padilla told the Inquirer in Filipino.
Despite the controversies surrounding the government’s ongoing war against drugs, Padilla, a devoted supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, doesn’t doubt the president’s intentions.
“The President meant no ill will. This is what he has promised to do for us and the country. He is kind and just. He is giving these drug users a chance to change their ways,” he said.
