MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Senator Robin Padilla defended the “Kalima La ilaha ilalah” hand gesture he showed during the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during President Bongbong Marcos’ second State of the National Address.

“It is a show of my faith,” he asserted.

Padilla also told reporters that if he will not be successful in pushing for a federal parliamentary form of government, he’d rather be an imam, go to Malaysia and study the Koran than be a senator.

Unconfirmed reports say that the Muslim senator has applied for a Malaysian passport, presumably in preparation for his move to that neighboring country.

Will he go by his real name or adopt a different name, like Marcial Bonifacio?