Dela Rosa fumes over ‘subversive’ books; says his point based on ‘moral grounds’

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senate PRIB file photo / Albert Calvelo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa lashed out on Thursday over the alleged subversive books published by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF).

During the Senate plenary deliberations on the commission’s 2023 budget, Dela Rosa shared that he himself read the “subversive” books.

“Ako, being isang ama, I can tell you right straight na ‘pag nabasa ‘yan ng anak ko, magiging subersibo ‘yung anak ko ‘pag nabasa ang libro na ‘yan,” the senator said.

(As a father, I can tell you right straight that when my child reads that, he/she will be subversive.)

“Tayo’y hirap na hirap na para kalabanin itong problema natin sa insurgency and yet, meron tayong ahensya ng gobyerno na sumusuporta sa pag-radicalize ng utak ng ating mga kabataan para lumaban sa ating gobyerno. That’s very counterproductive,” said dela Rosa, a former police chief.

(We are challenged to fight insurgency and yet, we have a government agency that supports radicalization of going against the government.)

Dela Rosa further explained that the basis of his point is not based on legal grounds but on moral grounds.

“What I was appealing is not based on legal grounds, what I was pointing out was based on moral grounds.

“It is our moral obligation, being people of this government, to help in nation building,” the senator explained.

In August, the KWF ordered the pullout and halted the production of five books it deemed subversive.

The five books were:

-Teatro Politikal Dos by Malou Jacob

-Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay by Rommel Rodriguez

-Tawid-diwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, ang Manunulat, at ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979 by Dexter Cayanes

-May Hadlang ang Umaga by Don Pagusara

-Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro by Reuel Aguila

Senator Pia Cayetano, budget sponsor, said that the KWF continued with the printing after three signatories of the order withdrew their signatures.

JPV