Bela Padilla expressed her thoughts on her uncle, Sen. Robin Padilla, and his participation in the ABS-CBN action series “Blood vs Duty,” where they are set to work together.
The actress broke her silence on Thursday, May 14, posting on X to address comments and speculations online about her and her relationship with the actor-politician, amid ongoing political tension in the country.
“Because of recent events, and since I’m being asked daily, I wish to express my thoughts on the issue surrounding the casting of my uncle in Blood vs Duty, and the current situation hounding the Senate,” Bela began.
The actress shared that while Robin had always been kind to her and their family growing up, their lives eventually took different paths, especially after he entered politics.
“Growing up, my tito Robin was kind to me and my family. I will be forever grateful for this. But as our careers flourished and took different directions, with him entering politics, our personal encounters have become scarcer. Our ideologies also differed,” she wrote.
Bela further clarified that she rarely sees her uncle these days and revealed that they had only recently crossed paths again because of the series.
“I do not live close to my uncle. I haven’t seen Tito Robin until we shared the same call time last Friday. Before then, I saw him 3 years ago,” she added.
The actress also denied allegations that she had any involvement in Robin’s casting in “Blood vs Duty”, stressing that the decision came solely from the show’s executives and producers.
“My uncle being cast in the show was neither because of my influence nor my being part of the cast. I was cast in December. He is a recent addition to the show. This decision is purely the prerogative of the executive and supervising producers of the show,” Bela explained.
She went on to emphasize that despite being related, her uncle’s political affiliations and views are separate from her own beliefs and convictions.
“My uncle’s political affiliation has nothing to do with my personal beliefs and convictions. We are related but we manage to agree to disagree. I remain grateful to his kindness, but I also maintain an independent and personal sense of being in charge of my career, choices and convictions,” Bela’s post concluded.
Sen. Padilla recently made headlines after being entangled in a heated exchange with fellow senator Kiko Pangilinan during a plenary session at the Senate, where they were discussing Sen Bato dela Rosa’s arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in the controversial drug war during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Padilla was also among the 13 senators who voted to remove Sen. Tito Sotto as Senate president and replace him with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, a move that sparked tension on the Senate floor.
