MANILA – Robin Padilla is backing President Rodrigo Duterte's stance over the Recto Bank allision that left 22 Filipino fishermen at open sea after a Chinese crew rammed their fishing boat last June 9.

Padilla said it is probably for the best if the situation doesn’t get blown out of proportion because the Philippines doesn’t stand a chance against China if the two countries get into a war.

“Kasi sinabi ng ating mahal na Pangulo na hindi 'yun dahilan para tayo eh makipaggiyera sa China at tayo ay matunaw na,” the actor said according to PEP, citing one of his recent Facebook live broadcasts.

The action star, who is a staunch supporter of Duterte, said the issue at hand involves a very sensitive topic and Filipinos should just trust the diplomatic strategy of the President.

Besides, Padilla pointed out that none of the fishermen died from the incident.

“Mahirap ho diyan nagmamatapang tayo at idadamay natin ang buong bayan. Wala namang namatay don sa ating mga kababayan. Alhamdulillah. At naiuwi nila ang bangka nila, pati 'yung huli nila. Sa tingin ko naman eh humingi na rin ng dispensa ang China ‘di ba sa nangyari,” he said.

“Huwag na lang ho nating palakihin. Siguro katulad ho ng sinasabi ko nung araw, kung sino ang matatapang eh sila na lang ang pumunta dun. Huwag na nating idamay pa ang Armed Forces, 'yung Pilipinas. Sarili na lang niyong sikap. Kung talagang matapang kayo eh ‘di patunayan niyo dun,” he added.

For Padilla, Duterte is handling the situation the best way he can.

“Sa sitwasyon ho natin ngayon kailangan eh utak muna ang nakikipaglaban at magaling diyan ang President natin. At alam din ho 'yan ng China. Kumbaga, nakikipag-chess ho ngayon yung ating Pangulo sa president [ng China],” he said.

He also took a swipe at those who do not agree with the President’s decision.

“Siyempre habang nakikipag-chess siya, alam niyo ho napakadaming bumubulong. 'Yung mga bumubulong diyan, 'yung mga miron minsan eh nakakainis 'yang mga miron. Pero mabuti na lang ho 'yung President natin, hindi nagpapadala sa mga 'yan,” he said.

“Hindi ho tayo tatagal ng isang araw. Kapag tayo ho ay nakipaggiyera sa China, hindi ho tayo tatagal ng isang araw… Tayo ho dapat lalaban lang tayo pagka in-invade na tayo. Pag sinabing conventional warfare, diyan, puwede ho nating ilabas ang tapang natin diyan. Ibig sabihin, harapan tayo. Yaong kalaban natin nasa harap natin. Yun ho yung magandang laban,” he added.

At the end of the day, Padilla said it’s important for people to have cooler heads before making rash comments.

“Lahat naman ng Pilipino mainit ang ulo, kahit sino naman. Agawan ka nga ng kendi, e, nakikipag-away ka, 'yun pang lupa. Kaya lang, siyempre, may mga bagay ho dito sa mundo na dapat nasa reyalidad po tayo. Sa panahon ho na 'to, dapat yaong mga nakakaintindi ay nagpapaliwanag,” he said.

Nonetheless, Padilla said he doesn’t doubt the courage of the Filipino people.

“Kung patapangan po ang laban, hindi ho tayo puwedeng magpatalo diyan, dahil matapang ang Pilipino. Pero ang Pilipino, hindi naman tanga. Pagpapraktisan lang ho tayo diyan. Gusto niyo ho ba yun? 'Yung ating bayan, e, pagpraktisan lang ng missile nila,” he said.

“Naku naman, sa tingin niyo ho ba tatagal ang Pilipinas? Minsan ang katapangan ibabalik sa logic. Kailangan meron po tayong logic. Pag sinasabing logic, 'yung nasa katotohanan tayo. 'Yun nga po ang ating message, at si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, naging malamig ang kanyang ulo,” he added.

Duterte, in his speech during the anniversary of the Philippine Navy on Monday, addressed the issue of the incident in Reed Bank last week, saying the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat is a "maritime incident."

He also said the incident is not enough for the government to send Philippine Navy ships to the area.

"You do not send gray ships (Philippine Navy) there. Banggaan lang ng barko 'yan. Do not make it worse because that is a fertile ground for... Alam ninyong mga sundalo, miscommunication 'yan. Patay na. And we are not yet as ready, and we can never be ready in nuclear war, because in nuclear war, kung bitawan lahat 'yan, earth will dry up and we will all be destroyed," he said.

Duterte said he will not be issuing an official statement since the incident has yet to be investigated.