MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s remark that “shit happens” during police’s anti-drug operations did not sit well with some of his colleagues in the Senate.
“One innocent life lost is one life too many. It is not every day that an innocent civilian, much less a 3-year old child is caught in the crossfire between law enforcement and criminal elements,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a text message Friday.
The three-year-old child he was referring to was Myka Ulpina, one of four persons killed in a bloody anti-drug police operation in Rodriguez, Rizal last June 29.
“Incidents like this should be taken seriously so that corrective measures will be put in place immediately and those responsible must at least be investigated to determine possible lapses or lack of discretion,” noted Lacson, who, like Dela Rosa, is a former chief of the Philippine National Police.
“Nonchalance has no place in this situation,” he added.
On Thursday, Dela Rosa came to the defense of the police, saying nobody wanted to hit and kill the child.
“Sino bang may gusto…? Ikaw ba, pulis ka gusto mo may bata tamaan? Kasi ikaw may anak ka rin, hindi mo gustong may mangyari na ganun,” he said at a forum in the Senate.
“Pero shit happens. During operation, shit happens,” he added.
READ: Shit happens, Bato says after a child got killed in drug bust
Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan rejected to accept the reality of having collateral damage during police operations.
“Kapag ganito ang kalakaran na tinatanggap nalang natin bilang realidad sa halip na kondenahin at panagutin ang mga nagkasala ay ibig sabihin mauulit ng mauulit ang patayan pati ng mga bata,” Pangilinan said in another text.
“Hindi ito tama at hindi ako sangayon sa posisyon na ganun lang talaga ang realidad,” he also said.
Pangilinan said he condemns not only the death of the child but also the everyday killings in the country.
Instead of killing poor Filipinos, the senator urged authorities to run after drug syndicates and those behind the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, another opposition member, also joined the fray.
“Shit happens? Then it’s time to call a plumber & flush this bloody & abusive drug war down the toilet,” Hontiveros said on Twitter. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)