MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa challenged on Wednesday those who question his intellect and readiness to be a senator to take an IQ test with him.
He lambasted his critics, saying that his inability to speak in fluent English and Filipino is not a sign of ignorance.
“Ito bang hindi ako magaling mag-ingles, hindi gaano magtagalog, yan ba ay kabobohan?,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, where he was proclaimed as senator.
“Pustahan tayo. Kung sino ‘yung nagcha-challenge sa ‘kin na bobo ako, sabay tayo magtake ng IQ exam. Ang measurement ng katalinuhan is IQ diba? Tingnan natin kung sino sa atin ang mas mataas ang IQ,” he added.
Dela Rosa was earlier reported to have said that he still needs training on how to craft laws, asking whether there is a seminar for that.
READ: Bato ready to become senator? Ex-top cop says ‘May seminar ba dyan?’
“O ano bang training dyan para matutunan ko para gawin yung batas at kung paano [gagawin] yung sa Senado (Or what kind of training do I need to pass laws in the Senate)?” he earlier said in a television interview.
The former police chief, who ran under the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), placed fifth in the 2019 senatorial race garnering a total of 19,004,225 votes.
Twelve new senators were proclaimed at the PICC on Wednesday morning. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
READ: 5 reelectionists, 4 returning, 3 new faces proclaimed senators