Bato: I won’t hold ‘paepal-epal’ Senate hearings, make resource persons cry

MANILA, Philippines — Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa vowed Thursday he will not hold “paepal epal” (attention grabbing) Senate hearings and make any resource person cry.

“‘Yung sige para maghearing hearing para mag-epal epal lang, pakita mo sa tao na naghi-hearing hearing siya, I will not do that. Kung may issue, kailangan aksyunan natin agad,” Dela Rosa said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

“‘Yung paiyakin ka sa sama ng loob dahil nga porke sila ang senador dito, sila ang may contained power, pasiga siga ka diyan, resource person ka lang icocontempt kita. ‘Yung mga ganon, I will never do that,” he added.

Dela Rosa said he will respect those invited in hearings at the Senate, but will give the same treatment to “rude” resource persons.

“I will respect resource persons whenever they are invited during hearings. Pero kung sakaling salbahe yung resource person then we have to, dapat i-treat din as ganon,” Dela Rosa said.

Asked if he still has huff about the incident, Dela Rosa said: “Meron talaga hanggang ngayon. Isipin mo, porke senador ka gaganunin mo yung tao.”

In 2016, Dela Rosa, who was then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, burst into tears during a Senate hearing.

Dela Rosa defended his organization from accusations that the agency was behind the extrajudicial killings of thousands of drug suspects. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

READ: Frustrated ‘Bato’ turns emotional, but vows to reform PNP