Robin Padilla urges critics to engage in dialogue with Chinese envoy

Senator Robin Padilla urged detractors to talk to Chinese ambassador Jing Quan, maintaining that the envoy did not issue any threats to the Philippines.

In a “24 Oras” report by Ian Cruz on Wednesday, Padilla was seen mingling with Quan at the ASEAN-Chinese Business Leaders Summit. The senator described the Chinese envoy as an “educated gentleman” despite his seemingly threatening remarks against the Philippines.

“Anong basehan ko? Nakausap ko nang personal eh. Yun ang pagkakaiba kapag nagkakausap tayo nang personal. Hindi yung nag-uusap tayo, mayroon pasakalye, puro komento. Walang madadale doon. Kailangan kung may issue ka sa tao, kausapin mo nang personal para makilala mo,” Padilla said in an interview after his initial statements.

(What was my basis? I talked to him personally. That is the difference if you talk personally. Not talking through the streets, or through comments. That will not get anywhere. If you have an issue with someone, you should talk personally to get to know them.)

Asked if Padilla brought up Quan’s controversial remarks, Padilla said that their talk was cut short.

“Never silang nagbanta. Walang ganoon. Tayo lang na yung mga…ang advice ko na lang sa mga sobrang tapang na mga kababayan natin. Kausapin niyo na personal, tutal matapang kayo,” Padilla said.

(They never threatened. There is nothing like that. We are the ones… my advice for our citizens that are so tough. Talk to them personally since you are so brave.)

Before this, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela questioned Padilla’s definition of being educated.

“For the past months since he became the ambassador, we saw all the things he said on social media and the most recent one where he threatened our Filipino citizens that if they use force, they will win and the Philippines will lose,” Tarriela said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Tarriela also questioned sentiments that the Chinese side only needed to be spoken to—Quan had issued those statements in person.

“Does this kind of personality represent what Senator Robin Padilla was saying of a proper person? … It depends on their level of closeness. Maybe the reason why he has this kind of conversation with the Chinese Ambassador is that they are really close on a personal level,” Tarriela said.—Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News