The events surrounding the Senate have unfolded rapidly, leaving many skeptical of official narratives. Questions abound regarding the alleged attack on the Senate on the evening of May 13, with some suggesting it may be a script to allow Senator Bato de la Rosa to evade accountability. The role of the Sergeant-at-Arms, retired Major General Mao Aplasca, a mistah of the beleaguered senator from Davao, has also come under scrutiny. Was Bato allowed to leave premises despite being under protective custody? The public feels treated as fools, with no credible explanations offered for the glaring loopholes.
Senate's declining credibility
The credibility of the Senate has sunk to an incredible low in recent days. The halls that once hosted the debates of Recto, Salonga, Diokno, and Tañada now echo with the inanities of Robin Padilla. However, no one embodies the institutional embarrassment more than Bato de la Rosa. His name means rock, a symbol of solidity, yet he appears firm only when battling alleged drug users whose poverty prevents them from fighting back.
Contradictions in Bato's stance
Netizens juxtapose video clips of Bato daring the International Criminal Court to “come and make my day” with his pathetic attempt to flee from those he thought were bearing an arrest warrant. He sings the Philippine Military Academy hymn as if protecting him equates to loyalty to the Philippines. He calls for prayer rallies to shield him, despite having served a President who mocked God. He appeals for his human rights to be respected, though under his leadership, the national police tokhanged thousands of alleged drug users without due process. The irony is lost on him, as he fails to notice the contradictions in his life.
One might imagine that Bato was once an idealistic young man before power and association with the unscrupulous altered his morals. This recalls an important figure in Christian history: Peter, whose name also means rock and who was given the keys to the kingdom of God. Paraphrasing the words of Jesus to Peter, one could imagine Rodrigo Duterte saying to Bato: “You are Bato, and upon this rock, I will wage my war against drugs. I will give you the keys to power. Whosoever you declare guilty will be guilty and can be killed, and whosoever you declare innocent will be innocent. The forces of human rights will not prevail against you.”
The difference between Peter and Bato
Peter became a saint, preaching the message of Jesus. Bato de la Rosa is now haunted by the possibility of arrest. The difference lies in their responses: Peter, despite his failings, remembered the words of the Lord. In contrast, Bato followed and imitated the bravado of his patron, who once ridiculed Jesus. That is one hell of a difference.
