SENATOR Robin Padilla defended his controversial remark describing today’s youth as “weak,” saying his statement was based on data and not mere opinion.
Padilla drew criticism after describing the current generation as “weak” during a Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
In a Facebook post later that day, Padilla said it was his mandate as committee chair to speak the truth.
“Ako ang chairman ng Public Information at Mass Media, mandato ko ang maging totoo sa taumbayan at huwag maging plastic o mapagkunwari sa mga sinasabi ko dahil ‘yon ang katotohanan,” he wrote.
He clarified that calling the youth “weak” was not simply his personal view but was anchored on statistics studied by his office.
“Ang nagsasabing mahina o weak ang kabataan ngayon ay ang mga datos ng suicide o pagpapatiwakal na aming pinag-aralan sa aming opisina at hindi bunga lang ng aming mungkahi o opinyon,” he said.
Padilla cited studies from other countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the figures.
“Katunayan ay sa buong pag-aaral din ng ibang mga progresibong bansa pati na ang World Health Organization ay nagpapatunay sa mga datos,” he added.
He said suicide among Filipino youth is a critical concern, noting that nearly one in five Filipinos aged 15 to 24 had thought about ending their lives, based on a 2021 survey.
“Ang pagpapatiwakal ng mga kabataan ay isang kritikal na alalahanin sa Pilipinas, kung saan halos isa sa limang (mga 20%) kabataang Pilipino na may edad 15-24 ang nag-iisip na wakasan ang kanilang buhay, ayon sa isang survey noong 2021,” he said.
He also noted that suicide attempts among youth rose to 7.5 percent in 2021 from 3 percent in 2013, a 150-percent increase.
Around 46 percent of total recorded suicide cases since 2010 involved individuals aged 10 to 35.
“Ang mga pagtatangkang magpakamatay sa mga kabataan ay tumaas sa 7.5% noong 2021 mula sa 3% noong 2013, isang 150% na pagtaas. Bukod pa rito, humigit-kumulang 46% ng kabuuang mga kaso ng pagpapakamatay na naitala mula noong 2010 ay mula sa mga kabataan (10-35 taong gulang),” he said.
Padilla urged the public to focus on addressing the issue rather than criticizing him.
“Kaya kung nais niyo makatulong sa isyu na ito ng mga kabataan. Do something about it and stop talking about me. Act on the data not act on my statement,” he said.
“Harapin niyo ang nangyayari sa ating kabataan hindi ako. Matanda na ako,” he added.
