Actress Angel Locsin has made a deeply personal appeal to Senator Robinhood Padilla to reconsider his support for the Duterte family, offering an early glimpse of how the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are beginning to test relationships beyond politics.
In an emotional Instagram post, Locsin addressed Padilla as “Kuya” and urged him to put the Filipino people ahead of political loyalty.
“Ang utang na loob natin ay sa ating Diyos at sa lahat ng Pilipino—hindi lamang sa isang tao,” Locsin said in a final appeal. “Tama na, Kuya. Gising na. Hindi pa huli ang lahat.”
Locsin also revisited Padilla’s own story of joining the rebels in his younger years, saying she was reminded of his advocacy for people’s rights after the senator declared during the impeachment trial that he was a communist.
Her message carried a note of hurt as she questioned why Padilla did not come to her defense when she was being red-tagged, and why he remained cordial with individuals who had accused her of being linked to communist groups.
The appeal carried the weight of a personal reckoning rather than a political attack. Locsin and Padilla have shared a friendship that predates their current roles in the country’s political landscape. The two previously worked together in GMA Network’s high-rating 2007 television series Asian Treasures, where their on-screen partnership became popular among Filipino viewers.
Locsin’s public message is among the first high-profile personal appeals directed at a senator expected to play a role in the impeachment proceedings. It highlights how the case against Vice President Duterte is beginning to ripple beyond Congress, testing alliances, friendships and long-standing relationships.
The impeachment process is expected to place senators in a difficult position as they weigh constitutional duty, political affiliations, and personal ties. Locsin’s message reflects a broader question emerging from the proceedings: whether public officials’ loyalty should ultimately be tied to personalities or to the people they represent.
As the impeachment battle moves forward, the divisions surrounding the Duterte family are no longer confined to political rallies, legislative chambers, and online debates. They are increasingly entering personal conversations, showing how deeply the issue has embedded itself in the country’s political consciousness.
