Bato Dela Rosa apologizes for insulting appearance of House member who is a stroke survivor
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has issued an apology after drawing flak for insulting the physical appearance of Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña, who is a stroke survivor.
His offensive remarks came after Cendaña criticized the dismissive attitude of Vice President Sara Duterte regarding her impeachment complaint and how she said that it "hurts more" to be broken up with than to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
"Pinapakita nun kung gaano kababa ang kanyang regard o pagtingin sa public service, kung gaano hindi niya pinapahalagahan ang mandato ng taong bayan at 'yung ating mga democratic processes. Gusto kong sabihin kay VP Sara, 'Teh, hindi ito usapin ng jowaan, usapin ito ng public accountability at pananagutan,'" Cendaña said in an interview.
After the House member's words made the rounds on social media, Dela Rosa wrote a comment threatening physical violence against Cendaña while ridiculing his facial features.
"'Yang mukha mo, sinapak ng 'di natin alam kaya ngiwi. Lumapit ka nga dito kasi sasapakin kita sa kabilang mukha mo para balanse," the senator wrote in Bisaya.
Cendaña subsequently addressed dela Rosa's comment in a statement on his social media accounts.
"'TABINGI ANG MUKHA' ko dahil ang 'BAKLANG NGIWI' na ito ay stroke survivor. Yakap na mahigpit sa mga kapwa ko stroke survivor," he said.
"Mhie, sasapakin daw ako ng isang senador? Ang 'tapang' naman ni koya. Sana ganyan din siya katapang laban sa China sa WPS (West Philippine Sea) at sa pagharap sa ICC (International Criminal Court). O baka naman iiyak na naman siya ng crocodile tears at kakaripas ng takbo, gaya ng pagtakbo niya noon sa hawak niyang paputok?" he wrote in a separate post.
Cendaña was referring to how dela Rosa is being investigated by the ICC for his role in the controversial drug war under the Duterte administration, in which he served as the Philippine National Police chief.
Dela Rosa has since expressed regret over his comment and issued a statement apologizing to Cendaña for the insult.
"The past few days have weighed heavily on Filipinos, especially sa aming mga Mindanaoans at ibang Cebuano speaking people. Maraming nagalit, at dahil sa nag-empathize ako sa galit nila, nakapagbitiw ako ng mga salitang hindi maganda at nakapanakit ng damdamin ng iba," he began.
"I apologize for what I said and did, particularly in failing to see the bigger picture. My apologies to Congressman Perci Cendaña for my offensive comments on his person. I wish him good health. I make no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt my words have caused," he said.
In response, Cendaña said that he "welcomes" dela Rosa's apology and hopes that "he can also do the same to all stroke survivors who were hurt by his remarks."
"Hindi tayo balat sibuyas, pero ibang usapan when a public servant of such high position uses his voice to threaten people with violence and discriminate people with health concerns," he stressed.
"Nawa’y magsilbi itong mahalagang aral, na ang tunay na lider ay hindi lamang may kapangyarihan kundi may malasakit, to keep our political discourse rationale and humane, at ang panawagan ng pananagutan ay hindi personal na atake kanino man kundi responsibilidad ng lahat ng mamamayan," he continued.
The political atmosphere in the Philippines has been in turmoil after Duterte's impeachment. Her case will now be going up to the Senate for trial. In the 24-seat Senate, it needs at least 16 or a two-thirds vote to remove her from office.
