Sen. Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday admitted that newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano convinced him to come out of hiding and attend Monday’s Senate session so he could vote in the leadership change at the chamber.
Speaking in an interview with True FM, dela Rosa said his physical presence was necessary for his vote to be counted in the move that eventually led to Cayetano’s election as Senate President.
“Kailangan dahil para kami naman ulit ang magiging majority, kailangan nandiyan ako para bumoto (I needed to be there because for us to become the majority again, I had to be present to vote),” dela Rosa said.
“Sabi ko sige, matagal ko na pinag-iisipan na bumalik sa trabaho. Bahala na, whatever happens. Iri-risk ko itong aking sitwasyon para makarating diyan (I said yes because I had already been thinking of returning to work. Come what may, whatever happens, I will take the risk just to get there),” he added.
Dela Rosa said his return to the Senate was also important because he may serve as a senator-judge once the chamber convenes as an impeachment court following the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The senator clarified that Cayetano did not guarantee he would be protected from arrest amid the looming International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant issue, saying their discussions focused mainly on the Senate leadership vote.
Dela Rosa also revealed that he wanted a leadership change in the Senate because he was dissatisfied with the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the controversial flood control projects, claiming there appeared to be a “cover-up.”
He said the committee was more effective when chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, adding that the previous hearings supposedly examined all personalities and angles connected to the controversy.
Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, rejected dela Rosa’s allegations, calling them baseless.
In a separate interview with True FM, Sotto said the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation had in fact become extensive enough that several senators were dragged into the controversy.
“Baligtad ang naririnig ko sa ibang kasama namin. Masyadong binubulatlat at nadadamay ang mga kasama namin (I’m hearing the opposite from our colleagues. The investigation has become too extensive and even our fellow senators are being dragged into it),” Sotto said.
“Hindi ako puwedeng sumang-ayon doon sa pagtatakip. Sino pinagtatakpan? Si Martin? Eh sabit na nga ‘yun (I cannot agree with claims of a cover-up. Who exactly is being protected? Martin? He’s already being implicated),” he added, referring to Speaker Martin Romualdez.