Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa defended his claim that he was “wrestled” by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents during an attempt to serve an arrest warrant, saying his description was based on his personal experience of the incident.
Speaking to DZRH's Dos Por Dos on Wednesday, dela Rosa responded to NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag’s statement denying that any physical confrontation took place during the incident at the Senate on Monday.
“Kanya-kanyang bersyon ‘yan. ‘Yung bersyon ko kung ano ang naramdaman ko,” dela Rosa said.
The senator explained that his definition of “wrestling” referred to the physical struggle that occurred when agents tried to approach him.
“Kung ano ang standard mo sa wrestling, sa akin kapag ikaw ay hinawakan, nagpumiglas ka, sa akin wrestling na ‘yun eh. ‘Yung dalawang babae… Dinakma ako, pumiglas ako, tumakbo kasi pakilala ‘Sir, NBI kami’ pumiglas ako, tumakbo. So ‘yan sa akin ang wrestling,” he added.
The remarks came after Matibag disputed claims that NBI personnel wrestled with dela Rosa while attempting to serve the warrant. In an interview on DZRH’s “Dos Por Dos,” the NBI chief said video footage from the Senate session showed no physical struggle initiated by agents.
“Wala naman nangyaring pag-wrestling. Nangyari po sa kanya sa pagtakbo niya ay nadapa po,” Matibag said.
“Nadapa sa hagdanan, natukod yung kanyang daliri kaya nasugatan, kita naman po. Kasi nilabas naman po nila ang video. Wala naman ako nakita doon sa video na nagkaroon ng wrestling,” he added.
Matibag said two female NBI agents approached dela Rosa to serve the warrant, while several male personnel stood behind them. Dela Rosa, however, maintained that he reacted by pulling away and running after identifying themselves as NBI agents.
“Hindi naman ‘yung i-body slam ko ‘yung babae sa sahig. Gusto niya wrestling na ibig sabihin. Ang wrestling sa akin ay ‘yung nagpupumiglas,” the senator said.
Dela Rosa also declined to identify the senator who reportedly drove him to the Senate, saying he was prepared to take a motorcycle taxi if necessary in order to attend Senate sessions.
“Hindi ko na sasabihin kung kanino, baka mamaya sabihin niya, pinasakay na nga kita, isumbong mo pa ako,“ he said.
“It doesn’t matter namna kung anong mode of transportation ang ginamit ko pagdating dito sa Senado. Kahit na maghabal-habal ako. Wala naman problema diyan, basta importante makaratig ako,“ the senator added.
