‘Bato’ admits being bothered by conscience over VFA termination
MANILA, Philippine — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday admitted feeling bothered by his part in the looming termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.
Speaking to reporters, dela Rosa said he had some feelings of guilt, considering that the cancellation of his US visa had triggered President Rodrigo Duterte to issue the ultimatum to the US, subsequently resulting in the abrogation of the accord.
“Medyo bothered din ako kahit papaano dahil parang lumalabas na I am the reason of it all, lalong-lalo na yung mga tao na hindi makakaintindi, talagang they are there to crucify you because of what happened, so medyo bothered,” dela Rosa said in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday.
(I am bit bothered somehow, because it appears I am the reason for all of it. Those people especially who could not understand, they are really there to crucify you because of what happened, so I am a bit bothered.)
Dela Rosa insisted that the cancellation of his visa, was just one incident, but there are other incidents that prompted the President’s action.
“Sinasabi ko nga sa inyo, bothered nga ako, nakukunsensya nga ako. Kung pwede lang hindi sana ako ang naging last straw but nangyari na ang nangyari. Ako yung naging last straw so panindigan natin yung ating pagiging Filipino… It was an accumulation of gripes and mga disrespect na ginawa ng kabila dito sa atin so yun na ang nangyari,” he said. He did not elaborate what actions of the US he was referring to.
(As I said, my conscience is bothering me. If only what happened to me wasn’t the last straw, but it already happened. It became the last straw, so I will just carry on being a Filipino… It was an accumulation of gripes and disrespects that they did to us, so that’s what happened)
The senator recognized that the VFA termination would have a big impact on the country.
But since the notice of termination has already been sent to the US, then there is nothing left to do but to move forward, he said.
“Sabi nga nila, it’s better to have a Philippines being run like hell by Filipinos than run like heaven by Americans,” he said.
