‘DO YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY?’ | Dela Rosa fumes at student leader during ROTC hearing

August 23, 2019 , 08:31 AM

(AUGUST 22, 2019) — A student drew the ire of Senator Roland Dela Rosa on Thursday’s Senate hearing on the revival of the ROTC, after he took a swipe at the senator’s “second chance” remark on convicted murderer-rapist Antonio Sanchez’s possible release.

At the hearing, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) president Raoul Manuel expressed his view that law enforcement and rights awareness will be difficult to uphold if public officials do not agree, especially if a senator believes a murderer and rapist deserves to have a second chance while the poor are simply gunned down.

Manuel was referring to Dela Rosa’s remark that Sanchez deserves a new lease on life, after supposedly being eligible for release from the New Bilibid Prison after the amendment of laws relating to good conduct time allowance (GCTA).

“Ang layo naman ng sinasabi mo, mister. Kasama ba ‘yan dito sa hearing ‘yung comment ko na ‘yun? Ang layo naman!” a visibly upset Dela Rosa said in reaction. “I take offense on what you said na ‘yung ROTC is a misrepresentation of nationalism. Anong tingin mo sa amin? Ganoon ka lang mag-judge sa amin?” .

The neophyte senator then questioned Manuel if he was the “true representation of Filipino students” before claiming that more students are in favor of the reinclusion of the ROTC in the school curriculum than “left-leaning” students who are against the measure.

Still ranting in the now-silent Senate conference room, Dela Rosa then asked Manuel if he loves his country. Manuel replied that students love their country and show it in various ways.

“Kapag inatake tayo ng China rito, sinong palalabanin mo riyan sa mga Chinese na ‘yan? NPA?” Dela Rosa asked.

“Gusto naming ipaglaban ang ating bansa mula sa foreign invaders pero mismo sa ating Constitution, the AFP—which is tasked to preserve our integrity and national sovereignty—ay hindi natin nakikitaan ng real intent to defend our country, so wala tayong role model for that,” Manuel responded.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the committee on basic education, stepped in and asked Manuel’s group instead to submit their position paper on mandatory ROTC. Senator Pia Cayetano then asked to strike from the record the statements of Manuel which were deemed irrelevant to the topic.

‘GUSTO KONG BITAYIN ‘YAN’

Dela Rosa, still fuming about the exchange with Manuel, opened up about wanting to hang Sanchez.

“Kung may death penalty noon, dapat nabitay na ‘yang Sanchez na ‘yan,” Dela Rosa said. “Pero kayo, ayaw niyo naman ng death penalty. Ngayon, bibigyan ng second chance dahil na-reform na ‘yung tao… ayaw na naman ninyo! Saan na kami pupunta? Anong klaseng pag-iisip ‘yan?”

The senator then ranted about how students nowadays are undisciplined, which he believes justifies the return of the ROTC.

“Kahit ang senador kayang tirahin sa non-relevant issue sa ganitong forum. Ganoon na pala. Kaya pala dapat ibalik ang ROTC para madisiplina kayong mga estudyante kayo,” he added, drawing applause from some of the crowd.

Gatchalian, seemingly upset also with Manuel and his group, gave them a stern warning.

“‘Wag ninyong dadalhin ‘yung mga walang katuturan dito sa komiteng ito. Dahil sinisira ninyo ‘yung aming pagdinig at sinasayang ninyo ‘yung aming oras. We’re exercising fairness, kaya bigyan ninyo kami ng respeto,” Gatchalian said.

Manuel later apologized for his “irrelevant remark”, saying he was just carried away by his emotions. (Randell Ritumalta/JMF)

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