FALSE: Mariel Padilla claims Sen. Robin Padilla passed a law before becoming a senator

Kharl Duztin Tabianan

In an election campaign video posted by Mariel Padilla on May 7, 2022, she claims that her husband, Padilla, passed a law while he was a person deprived of liberty (PDL) in the 1990s, before entering politics.

Her video recently gained attention and circulated on social media after many netizens reuploaded it. Mariel later defended her statement, saying that her words were taken literally. She clarified that she was referring to Robin’s experience as a PDL and his alleged involvement in consultations on amendments to the law.

CLAIM:

Padilla authored and passed a law while he was still a PDL and before he became a senator.

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION:

Padilla did not author or pass the law. He was still a PDL and was not a legislator when it was enacted.

THE FACTS:

• The law being talked about is Republic Act No. 8294, which was passed on June 6, 1997. It changed the penalties for certain firearm offenses and amended an earlier law, Presidential Decree No. 1866. 

• Padilla was still in prison when the law was passed. He later benefited from the law because it reduced the legal penalties related to his firearm case.

• The law was passed by the 10th Congress and signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos. Padilla was not a lawmaker at the time and did not pass the law. 

BOTTOMLINE:

Padilla benefited from RA 8294, but he did not author or pass the law. It was enacted in 1997 while he was still a PDL, years before he became a senator.