Dela Rosa on Senate debates: I won’t stand if I’m not ready

MANILA, Philippines— Who won’t be afraid when you’re up against veteran senators like Minority Leader Franklin Drilon?

Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa admits getting cold feet with the idea of debating with the likes of Drilon.

“Anong iisipin mo kung kaharap mo sina Drilon? P*ta, ilang years na yun na senador. Talagang matatakot ka din na interpellate ka nyan,” Dela Rosa told reporters on Tuesday.

“Pero I will not stand if I’m not ready. I will stand if I’m ready so dapat fully-equipped ako ng lahat ng posibleng tanong,” he said.

Another neophyte senator, Francis Tolentino,  faced a grilling from Drilon when he delivered a privilege speech on the Senate floor for the first time last week.

In his speech , Tolentino defended  the validity of President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, allowing China to fish in Philippine waters.

But Drilon dared Tolentino to reveal the details of the agreement, which the latter failed to present as he admitted that his proposition was just based on media reports.

READ: Baptism of fire: Tolentino defends Duterte-Xi verbal fishing deal, but admits he got no details

Dela Rosa said Senator Panfilo Lacson was right when he advised him to observe first before participating in a debate.

“Tama sabi nya (Lacson) sa akin yan. Pag baguhan, makinig ka. Observe, observe, observe. So tama yun,” he said.

While waiting for the right time to debate on the floor, Dela Rosa said he is excited to preside over a hearing of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs on Wednesday.

Dela Rosa will sit for the first time as chair of the committee, previously headed by Lacson.

“Excited ako. kabado, first time,” he said. “Meron bang first timer na di kabado? Hindi ba first kiss mo medyo… Kabado talaga ako pero kaya yan . Manood kayo bukas,” he said.  /muf