‘Sarap ng Buhay’ ends for ‘Bato’

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa sponsors Committee Report No. 94 which contains Senate Bill No. 1562 seeking to increase the recruitment quota of female police officers. Screengrab from Senate livestream

MANILA, Philippines – “Sarap ng Buhay” ended for neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as he physically attended the Senate’s plenary session on Monday following his controversial remark last week.

Dela Rosa earlier drew flak over his remark during the chamber’s May 26 plenary session, when he told his colleagues in jest: “Sarap ng buhay! Sarap ng buhay! Ganito na lang tayo palagi ha?” when it ended relatively early.

The next day, Senate President Vicente Sotto III directed Dela Rosa to attend Monday’s session physically “because he is becoming very popular in social media.”

During Monday’s session, Sotto asked a Senate staff member to fetch Dela Rosa from his office.

“Bring him (Dela Rosa) down here,” the Senate president said.

The neophyte senator was among the eight senators physically present for the session. Fifteen senators are participating in the proceedings through teleconference.

The Senate earlier shifted to “hybrid” plenary sessions and committee hearings as the coronavirus pandemic triggered restrictions in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Dela Rosa, as chair of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs, sponsored two bills during the session.

One measure seeks to increase the recruitment quota of female police officers. The other bill, meanwhile, aims to lower the minimum height requirement for applicants of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).