An 2025 video of Sen. Robin Padilla consuming what many believed was barbecue earned him backlash, given his Islamic faith and its prohibition against eating pork.
Some social media users recently posted a video of the Muslim senator eating food while believed to be in The Hague, Netherlands.
In 2025, Padilla traveled to the European city to show support for detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is in the custody of the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity of murder.
A video of the senator eating with other Filipinos was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, May 24, showing him taking a piece of what some believed was barbecue.
Barbecue refers to meat, often pork, marinated in a sweet and savory sauce and grilled over charcoal.
“Is the Muslim Senator Robin Padilla really faithful to his religion as he purports to be?” an X user asked.
Is the Muslim Senator Robin Padilla really faithful to his religion as he purports to be?
Recently, he had a heated engagement and threatened to bring to the Senate Ethics committee his accusation that Senator Pangilinan was raising his voice towards him at the session hall.… pic.twitter.com/LOvRvK5JZa
— The King (@arthurXadvocate) May 24, 2026
“Eto ‘yung performative Muslim na kumakain ng Pork BBQ, pati siguro chicharon,” another commented.
“Ipokrito!” a different Pinoy wrote.
“Ano ‘yan kinain ni Robinhood? Pork bbq? ‘Di ba bawal ‘yan sa kanilang mga Muslim… dahil dirty ‘yan. Hahahaha,” another commented.
“If that is pork barbecue he’s munching on, then he is not devout,” a different online user said.
“What??? BBQ? Pork kaya ‘yun?” a Pinoy asked.
In June 2025, claims of Padilla eating “pork barbecue” in The Hague also surfaced in a Reddit community.
“Nung nag-comment ako sa r/Philippines, sobrang obvious na pork BBQ kinain ni Robin sa Hague. Raming fan ni Robin doon. Chicken satay or beef BBQ raw ‘yun!” a Redditor wrote.
“Good Muslim? Parang [may] video nakain siya ng pork bbq? LOL,” another Redditor commented.
It is not confirmed whether Padilla ate pork barbecue or satay, a dish consisting of seasoned meat, often chicken, skewered on sticks and grilled over charcoal.
The senator converted to Islam after meeting Muslim elders during his detention in the 1990s for illegal possession of firearms.
Meanwhile, in Islam, pork is prohibited based on the teachings in the Quran and the traditions of their Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims generally avoid consuming pork, which is considered spiritually harmful as it defiles their body and soul.