Sen. Robin Padilla defended his recent “weak” remark about Filipino youth, saying his statement was based on data and his responsibility to be truthful to the public.
Padilla said that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, he is mandated to speak honestly and avoid being “plastic” or hypocritical in addressing national concerns.
The senator clarified that his comment describing the youth as “weak” was not merely a personal opinion or suggestion. He said the remark was based on data on suicide that his office reviewed. According to Padilla, a 2021 survey showed that one in five Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 had thought about ending their lives.
He said the figure indicates a critical concern that should be addressed as a national issue. Padilla urged the public to focus on taking action to resolve the problem rather than criticizing his statement.
The senator also said that attention should be directed toward helping the youth, adding that he himself is already older. He maintained that the issue affecting young people deserves greater focus and concrete steps.
Padilla’s comments came after public reaction to his earlier remark about the youth. He reiterated that his intention was to highlight a serious concern and encourage action based on available data.
He stressed that addressing the issue requires attention to the situation of Filipino youth and the challenges they face. Padilla called on the public to work toward solutions instead of focusing on him.
