By: Villamor C. Visaya Jr.
(Published in its print edition on February 1 – 7, 2025)
HE used to be called as an unperturbed man, a rock-like man or a steel-minded legislator.
Yet, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s mocking of the facial appearance of his fellow lawmaker, Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña who had survived a stroke is a below-the-belt and off-tangent statement not suited to an honorable man.
The senator derided Cendaña as if his face was punched because it is skewed. He asked the party-list representative to pay him a visit so that he can punch the other side of his face to make it balanced.
The harsh words are certainly degrading, demeaning, or an insult to the dignity or honor of people with disabilities and health concerns.
Hats off goes to the Epilepsy Awareness Philippines, a group of physicians and advocates, who lambasted Dela Rosa for the “cruel” and “insulting” remarks. He is definitely discriminating people or undermining the patients’ challenges.
The word war came after Cendaña, who in December last year signed the first of four impeachment complaints to be filed in the House against the Vice President, described Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the impeachment complaint is not painful. Dela Rosa was visibly mocked by the representative’s tirade against Sara.
Duterte said: “it is more painful being dumped by a boyfriend or a girlfriend than to be impeached by the House of Representatives.”
To quote, Cendaña answered: “Sister, this is not about having a lover, but about public accountability and liability.”
Dela Rosa is, indeed, a known Duterte loyalist, being the Philippine National Police chief under then President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father. No doubt that he is a known Duterte diehard.
Yet, the thin line separating loyalty from patriotism must be observed by legislators like Dela Rosa.
If people like him in the upper echelon of society acts as if he is a brat or having a child-like attitude, the trust given to most national leaders will certainly be eroded like landslides.#
