Senator Ronaldo "Bato" dela Rosa has nominated a fellow former uniformed personnel as sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, who will protect the 24 "most important people" in the Philippines--the senators.
Dela Rosa picked retired Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan on Monday, Aug. 1 for the position due to his achievements that the lawmaker "admires".
The senator also recalled the time when Ancan, being the former commander of the 1001 brigade, took a bullet for him when he overtook the convoy initially led by Dela Rosa, who was then a police provincial director. It penetrated through a military detachment in Davao de Oro surrounded by members of the New People's Army (NPA).
Ancan was wounded in the ambush, said Dela Rosa.
"It is my honor to nominate for the position of Senate sergeant-at-arms one of the bravest men I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with," the senator said.
"If one considers General Ancan's career, one cannot help but admire him for all his achievements. Imposibleng hindi siya hangaan (It's impossible not to admire him)," he added, saying Ancan's hometown of Victorias City in Negros Occidental extols him for being the very first resident to reach the rank of general in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Ancan was chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Visayas Command prior to his appointment in the Senate. He retired in August 2021 after over three decades in the military service.
Dela Rosa urged Ancan, who subsequently took his oath before Senate President Migz Zubiri, not to disappoint him as he would be the one to protect the "24 of the most high-profile government officials after the President and Vice President".
"Itong bente-kwatrong tao na ito ang pinakaimportanteng tao sa buong Pilipinas because we are nationally elected. At alam mo na, this is the last bastion of democracy, itong establisyemento na iyong ga-guwardiyahan (These 24 people are the most important people in the Philippines because we are nationally-elected. You know, this is the last bastion of democracy, this establishment that you will guard)," he added.