Screenshot of a post by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña in X.
MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Sunday apologized after his comment mocking the facial appearance of Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, who is a stroke survivor, drew flak.
READ: Dela Rosa draws flak for mocking stroke survivor Cendaña
“The past few days have weighed heavily on Filipinos, especially sa aming mga Mindanaoans at ibang Cebuano speaking people. Maraming nagalit, at dahil sa nag-empathize ako sa galit nila, nakapagbitiw ako ng mga salitang hindi maganda at nakapanakit ng damdamin ng iba,” Dela Rosa said in a statement.
(The past few days have weighed heavily on Filipinos, especially among us Mindanaoans and other Cebuano-speaking people. Many people were angry, and because I empathized with their anger, I was able to say words that were not nice and hurted the feelings of others.)
“I apologize for what I said and did, particularly in failing to see the bigger picture. My apologies to Congressman Perci Cendaña for my offensive comments on his person. I wish him good health. I make no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt my words have caused,” he added.
Dela Rosa commented on INQUIRER.net’s social media card on Facebook about Cendaña’s reaction to Vice President Sara Duterte’s remark that losing a partner is more painful than being impeached by the House of Representatives.
“I want to tell VP Sara, ‘sister, this is not a discussion of relationships, it is about public accountability,” Cendaña said in Filipino.
Dela Rosa then commented in Bisaya: “Your face looks as though it has been punched, that’s why it’s skewed. Come here so I can punch the other side of your face and make it balanced.”
A screenshot of his comment made rounds on social media, but could no longer be found in the post’s comment section.
Cerdeña replied to this but did not name Dela Rosa.
“Mhie, sasapakin daw ako ng isang senador? Ang “tapang” naman ni koya. Sana ganyan din siya katapang laban sa China sa WPS (West Philippine Sea) at sa pagharap sa ICC,” Cendaña said in a post in X (formerly Twitter).
(A senator wants to punch me? He is “brave.” I hope he is also like that against China’s aggression in the WPS and in facing the ICC.)
READ: Cendaña claps back at Dela Rosa: Bring that ‘bravery’ to China, ICC