Bato dela Rosa under fire for insulting Akbayan’s Cendaña

Senator Bato dela Rosa might have thought that he was just being a loyal Duterte ally when he lashed out at Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña for calling out Vice President Sara Duterte over her dismissive remarks about her impeachment.

Those who are closely watching the Senate races thought it was quite a careless remark for a reelectionist senator who is not among the top candidates in voter preference surveys — someone who should be even more sensitive to public opinion.

Dela Rosa, in the comments section of an Inquirer.net Facebook post on Friday, February 7, ridiculed Cendeña for criticizing Duterte’s statement that getting dumped by a significant other is worse than getting impeached. (READ: [Pastilan] This isn’t some dating app, Sara)

This would have been par for the course in politics but he anchored his statement on Cendana’s physical appearance, particularly his facial expression. He told the lawmaker to come near him so that he could punch the other side of the congressman’s face to make both sides “balanced.”

Cendaña, who shared Dela Rosa’s instaquote as posted and translated by impact Leadership (the comment was in Bisaya), said in a Facebook post on Saturday, February 8, that his face is that way because he is a stroke survivor.

Health and medical advocates rallied behind Cendaña and demanded not only an “immediate and unequivocal public apology” from Dela Rosa to the lawmaker and the “broader disability community,” but also that he be reprimanded by the Senate.

“Senator Bato dela Rosa’s attack on Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña is not just cruel — it is an insult to the dignity of persons with health conditions. Had he taken even a moment to do his research, he would have known that Rep. Perci is a stroke survivor,” the group said.

“Instead, his appalling remarks reinforce harmful stereotypes and deepen the discrimination that people with various health concerns endure every day. Advocates have long fought for a society built on inclusivity, respect, and equal rights, yet Dela Rosa’s actions undermine this progress by reducing a health condition to a mere punchline,” they added.

To the Senate, they said: “We call on the Senate and its members to hold Dela Rosa accountable. Our lawmakers must champion, not ridicule, the rights and dignity of all Filipinos — especially those living with disabilities.”

“His words were not just offensive, they were demeaning and harmful. If he has even a shred of decency, he must take full responsibility, apologize directly to Rep. Perci and the broader disability community, and commit to learning from his mistake,” said the group, which included 30 advocates and one group, Epilepsy Awareness Philippines, as of 11 am on Saturday.

Former senator Leila de Lima, ML Partylist first nominee, joined others in condemning Dela Rosa’s “unacceptable” remarks against Cendaña. She also called out Dela Rosa for threatening to use violence against the lawmaker. – Rappler.com