Robin Padilla wants Australian senator declared persona non grata

Australian senator Janet Rice, during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ‘s address to the Australian Parliament on Thursday, pulls up a placard urging the president to “stop the human rights abuses.” | PHOTO: Janet Rice ‘X’ account

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla has called on the Philippine government to declare as persona non grata Australian Senator Janet Rice after she staged a protest while President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was addressing the Australian Parliament last Thursday.

In his proposed Senate Resolution No. 944, Padilla labeled Rice’s actions against Marcos as unparliamentary.

Rice, when Marcos was delivering his speech before the Australian Parliament on February 29, pulled out a placard that stated: “Stop the human rights abuses.”

READ: Australian senator stages ‘protest’ during Marcos’ speech

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rice claimed that under Marcos’ administration, “the corruption in the Philippines is getting worse, while hundreds of political prisoners and anti-terrorism laws are used as a cover for extrajudicial killings.”

Rice’s actions did not sit well with Padilla, prompting him to file the resolution.

READ: Marcos tells Australia their strategic partnership is more important than ever

Padilla said in his measure, “Greens Senator Janet Rice engaged in unparliamentary behavior by expressing her dissent through an act of protest during the proceedings.”

“As reflected in the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, Senator Rice was directed “to leave the Chamber for disorderly behavior,” he added.

Padilla’s resolution particularly noted the need to furnish a copy of the measure to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo for his “information and appropriate action.”

INQUIRER.net has sought the Department of Foreign Affairs’ comment on Padilla’s appeal, but the agency has yet to respond as of posting.