Sen. Robin Padilla defended his hand gesture while singing the national anthem, saying it was a sign of his faith. He received online attention and criticism for a hand gesture shown while singing the National Anthem during the State of the Nation Address last Monday.

Padilla, a practicing Muslim, explained that his gesture was a sign of his faith.

“I always do the ‘Kalima La ilaha ilalah’ with my hand here. Why can’t you do that? I would rather resign than have somebody telling me I cannot (practice) my faith,” Padilla said in a statement, referring to the hand gesture that asserts the oneness of God.

In Islam, raising the index finger signifies the “Tawh?d,” which denotes the indivisible oneness of God.

Padilla also said that he’d rather resign as a senator than have someone telling him not to practice his religion. “I will never, never exchange my faith to be a politician,” he said.

“If I will not be successful in pushing for a federal parliamentary form of government, I’d rather be an Imam, I’d rather go to Malaysia and study the Koran than be a senator,” Padilla added.

Some Filipinos raised concerns about the senator, observing that he failed to make the traditional gesture of placing his palm over his chest during the playing of the national anthem at a public event.

Everyone was instructed to place their right palm over their chest, but when the camera panned to Padilla, some Filipinos noticed that all his fingers, except his index finger, which pointed outward, were curled inward.

“Kailan ba naging para sa religion ang Lupang Hinirang?”

Eagle-eyed netizens criticized the senator’s hand gesture, citing a violation of Republic Act 8941 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.”

According to one Facebook post: “Kelan pa naging para sa Religion yung Lupang Hinirang? Ayambot! God bless pelepens!”

Another commenter also expressed criticism over Padilla’s gesture: “Sa relihiyon ginagamit talaga yan..pero sa pagkanta ng pambansang awit..sa kanya ko lang nakita. Mukhang mali nga si Idol. Ginagamit yan patungkol sa nagiisang panginoon ang pagkanta ng lupang hinirang ay patungkol sa bansa.”

Giuseppe Eftee bluntly commented on a Facebook post: “Please do resign. You always demand about the separation between the state and religion, but in a very important civil duty to honor your flag, you insert your faith which has nothing to do with our flag.”

RA8491 Nothing to do with choosing between faith and politics – Ex-Sen. Lacson

Former senator Panfilo Lacson also criticized Padilla for his move.

“He may have meant well, but the flag and heraldic code of the Philippines mandates reference and respect at all times for the flag and anthem,” Lacson said in his tweet.

“Sorry, RA8491 has nothing to do with choosing between faith and politics.” Lacson further tweeted.

Section 21 of Republic Act 8941 states that, “During the flag-raising ceremony, the assembly shall stand in formation facing the flag. At the moment the first note of the anthem is heard, everyone on the premises shall come to attention; moving vehicles shall stop. All persons present shall place their right palms over their chests, and those with hats shall uncover, while those in the military, scouting, security guard, and citizens’ military training uniforms shall give the salute prescribed by their regulations, which salute shall be completed upon the last note of the anthem.”