Cendaña on Bato's apology for foul remarks: Hope you learn your lesson

Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, a stroke survivor who was mocked and threatened by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, said on Sunday that the senator should apologize not just to him but to all stroke survivors affected by his remarks.

“I welcome Senator Bato’s apology. I hope he can also do the same to all stroke survivors who were hurt by his remarks,” said Cendaña after the senator issued a public apology.

“We are not onion-skinned, but it is a different matter when a public servant of such high position uses his voice to threaten people with violence and discriminate against those with health concerns,” he added.

De la Rosa, a key ally of the Duterte family, faced intense backlash, particularly from health advocates, over what critics described as "demeaning and harmful" remarks against Cendaña.

The senator, in a heated moment, told Cendaña: “Your face looks as though it has been punched; that’s why it’s skewed. Come here so I can punch the other side of your face and make it look even.”

Following public outrage, Dela Rosa later apologized, saying he was carried away by his emotions after the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday.

Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte, said he hopes the senator takes the incident as a lesson.

“May this serve as an important lesson: that the true leader is not only powerful but caring, to keep our political discourse rational and humane, and that the call for accountability is not a personal attack on anyone but the responsibility of all citizens,” he stated.