‘Balik na tayo sa totoong sapakan’: Cendaña accepts Dela Rosa’s apology, takes jab at VP Duterte

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña has accepted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Facebook)

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña has accepted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s apology for poking fun at his physical condition.

But that didn’t stop the congressman from throwing a proverbial jab particularly at Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I welcome Senator Bato’s apology. I hope he can also do the same to all stroke survivors who were hurt by his remarks,” Cendaña said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 9.

Earlier that day, Dela Rosa, an ally of the Duterte family, said, “I apologize for what I said and did, particularly in failing to see the bigger picture. My apologies to Congressman Perci Cendana 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.”

Before this, the senator insulted the way Cendaña looked and even threatened to punch him.

The party-list solon said: “Hindi tayo balat sibuyas, pero ibang usapan (We’re not onion-skinned, but it’s a whole different matter) when a public servant of such high position uses his voice to threaten people with violence and discriminate people with health concerns.”

Cendaña wished that Dela Rosa’s mea culpa would serve as a lesson, so that true leaders would wield “not just power but also compassion”. He also wants to keep “discourse rationale and humane”, and devoid of personal attacks.

For his parting shot, Cendaña switched gears, made a pun from Dela Rosa’s previous threat and said , “Oh siya, balik na tayo sa totoong sapakan—sapakan ng mga ebidensya ukol sa pang-aabuso at pandarambong ni [Vice President] Sara.”

(And now, let’s turn our attention back to the real fisticuffs of evidence regarding the alleged abuses and plunder Vice President Sara.)

The Akbayan solon was among the first to hail the House’s impeachment of the lady official last Feb.5.