Bato Dela Rosa returns to Senate amid tense leadership change
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa made a surprise return to the Senate on Monday, May 11, amid developments involving a change in the chamber's leadership.
- A visibly injured and angry Dela Rosa claimed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents blocked him from entering the Senate, forcing him to "wrestle" his way back to the plenary floor.
- Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano later announced that Dela Rosa was already inside the building as he claimed they had enough numbers to replace Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
Angry, bloodied, and catching his breath, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa made a surprise return in the Upper Chamber on Monday, May 11, just in time for a change in leadership in the Senate.
Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa makes his return to the Senate on Monday, May 11.
A visibly irked Dela Rosa said that he had to wrestle his way back to the plenary floor since he was barred by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents from entering.
He showed that his hand was bleeding from the scuffle.
"A sitting senator hinaharang, hindi papasukin sa sesyon (“A sitting senator is being blocked and not allowed to enter the session)," he said.
It was Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who stated that Dela Rosa was in the building as he announced that they had the numbers to replace Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
"Wala silang respeto sa institusyon ng Senado. Bakit ganun ang NBI? (They don't have any respect for the Senate as an institution. Why is the NBI like that?)" he said.
Dela Rosa later made the motion that former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and members of the NBI be removed from the Senate premises.
He wanted those involved to be inquested and have cases filed against them.
"I am sure Trillanes is involved," Dela Rosa said.