MANILA – Actress Bela Padilla has addressed public speculation surrounding the casting of Senator Robin Padilla in her ABS-CBN series Blood vs Duty, saying she had no involvement in the decision to include him in the project.

In a report, it said that in a post on her X account, Bela clarified that the senator’s inclusion in the series was solely decided by the show’s executive and supervising producers.

“Because of recent events, and since I’m being asked daily, I wish to express my thoughts on the issue surrounding the casting of my uncle in ‘Blood vs Duty,’ and the current situation hounding the Senate,” she said.

She recalled her personal relationship with the senator while noting that their interactions have become less frequent over the years.

“Growing up, my tito Robin was kind to me and my family. I will be forever grateful for this. But as our careers flourished and took different directions, with him entering politics, our personal encounters have become scarcer. Our ideologies also differed,” she said.

Bela added that she has not seen her uncle in three years until they met on set during a recent call time.

“I do not live close to my uncle. I haven’t seen tito Robin until we shared the same call time last Friday. Before then, I saw him 3 years ago,” she said.

She stressed that his casting was not influenced by her involvement in the production.

“My uncle being cast in the show was neither because of my influence nor my being part of the cast. I was cast in December. He is a recent addition to the show. This decision is purely the prerogative of the executive and supervising producers of the show,” she said.

Bela also addressed questions about her relationship with the senator, saying that while he had been supportive of her and her family growing up, their personal interactions have since become limited due to differing paths and beliefs.

“Our ideologies also differed,” she wrote, adding that she only saw him again recently on set.

She further clarified that her political views are separate from those of her uncle.

“My uncle’s political affiliation has nothing to do with my personal beliefs and convictions. We are related but we manage to agree to disagree,” she said.

Bela said she remains grateful for her uncle’s kindness but emphasized her independence in both her career and personal convictions amid ongoing online discussions linking the senator’s political controversies to the television project.