MANILA, Philippines—Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday disclosed losing his cool recently that he wanted to punch an airport’s assistance desk officer for repeatedly ignoring his queries.
The incident happened while he was going to his home province in Davao, Dela Rosa said during a Senate hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Transportation.
He said it was about 4 a.m. when he approached the assistance desk to inquire about the process of filing a complaint there.
“Sabi ko: Pwedeng magtanong? Ano po yun, Sir? Pag may complaint dito sa inyo, saan nyo dadalhin ang complaint?” the senator said, recalling his conversation with the desk officer.
(I said: May I ask? What is it, Sir? When there’s a complaint here, where do you bring the complaint?)
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, during the public hearing in the Senate on September 12, 2023. Senate PRIB photos
He did not disclose the employee’s name at the desk as he didn’t want him to lose his job.
“Ayaw talaga akong tingnan e. So tinanggal ko yung cap ko para makita nya na kalbo ako. Tinanggal ko yung mask ko para makita nya ang mukha ko ba,” Dela Rosa said.
(He didn’t want to look at me. So, I removed my cap so he could see I was bald. I removed my mask so he could see my face.)
And he repeated his question: “Sabi ko saan nyo dadalhin yun complaint kung may complaint dito?”
(Where should you take the complaint if there’s one here?)
“Bakit may complain ka ba [Why do you have a complaint]?” the senator quoted the unnamed airport employee as telling him.
When he said he had no complaints as he was just asking about the process, Dela Rosa said the airport employee told him: “Wala ka pa lang problema e [So you don’t have any complaint at all].”
“Nabwisit na talaga ako, na high blood talaga ako sir,” Dela Rosa said, directing his statement to Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmello Arcilla, who was present in the hearing.
(I really got annoyed. My blood pressure shot up.)
“Gusto ko sanang sapakin yung tao mo dun pero nagtitimpi lang talaga,” the senator went on.
(I really wanted to punch your man right there, but I restrained myself.)
Dela Rosa also recalled the employee telling him that he was busy doing a report and disturbing his work there when he had no complaints.
“Alam mo t*ng*na itong bata na ito. Sabi ko i-report ko na lang sayo para tanugnin mo ang mga tao mo dun,” said the senator.
Dela Rosa later said he understood the employee, who might just really busy with his work at that time when he made the inquiries.
He nevertheless asked the CAB boss to lecture his men about treating the people fairly and politely.
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