Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa on Wednesday, March 20, said he had apologized to Senator Raffy Tulfo, who walked out from a Senate hearing because of him.
"Humingi ako ng sorry sa kaniya. Sabi ko sorry kung hindi mo nagustuhan yung pagpapatakbo ko sa hearing. Ako ang nag-sorry para magkadahilanan kung bakit siya nagwalk-out... Sana 'wag ka magtampo kaagad, pwede naman tayo mag-usap," Dela Rosa said in an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.
"Wala namang mawawala sa akin kung magpakumbaba ako. The worst thing that you can do is kalabanin yung colleague mo," he noted.
Dela Rosa sa pag-walkout ni Sen. Tulfo: Mas mabuti siguro na siya ang tanungin natin kung ano ang raso niya bakit nag-walk out.#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 20, 2024
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On Tuesday, March 19, Tulfo exited the hearing on the case of Rodelio Vicente and his son, Julius, who was allegedly taken by Bulacan policemen into custody last year without any warrant of arrest.
He said his fellow senator was "babying" the personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Tulfo was bothered after resource persons gave inconsistent answers when he asked if the Bulacan police had a warrant of arrest during the operation.
"Mr. Chair, aalis na lang ako rito. Hindi ko matiis, nakikita ko na parang itong mga pulis, pinagloloko… I’m sorry, I have to walk out hindi ko kaya ito," he earlier said.
Dela Rosa admitted that he was insulted by his colleague's action. "The most insulting action is for that kasama mo dito magwo-walk out, wo-walk-outan ka. Anyway, that’s his prerogative. Kung ayaw na n’yang makinig sa hearing, kanya na ‘yan. Ako naman I am trying to be fair here. Wala akong bias dito. Kahit sabihin nyo dati akong chief PNP, ang dami nang pulis minalas sakin."
The senator clarified that he was not "babying" the PNP, saying his records will show that he has sent the most number of police officers to Senate detention.
