Vice President Sara Duterte conveyed her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday greeting to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who turned 64 while facing mounting political and legal challenges.
“‘Happy birthday, Senator Bato. Magpakatigas ka na parang bato.’ Iyon yung kanyang wish para kay Senator Bato dela Rosa,” the Vice President said after visiting her father in his detention cell at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
She also shared her own message of goodwill for the senator.
“Sa lahat ng tao, ang aking wish ay unang-una, good health… Pangalawa, happiness… Pangatlo, success in the year of the horse. Greetings namin kay Senator Bato dela Rosa, happy, happy birthday,” she said.
Dela Rosa recently broke his silence, declaring he was waiting for “true justice” amid persistent speculation that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
As former chief of the Philippine National Police, he was the principal architect and enforcer of the campaign from 2016 to 2018, which remains under international scrutiny.
The senator has been absent from public view since Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla claimed two months ago that the ICC had already issued a warrant against him.
Vice President Duterte also gave an update on her father’s condition, noting that the former president now struggles with mobility.
“For an 81-year-old na, normal siya na hirap maglakad… May tungkod siya,” she said.
She added that many supporters continue to express their desire to greet Duterte personally.
“Sinabihan ko siya, ‘pag ako umuwi, nagmamano ako, yumayakap ako.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, marami ang gusto magpaabot ng yakap sa iyo. Medyo routine na siya,” she said.