Netizens were aghast at how misplaced Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s view was on the issue of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
On Tuesday, Dela Rosa was asked for his comment on the current issue being faced by ABS-CBN. In response, Dela Rosa questioned if 11 thousand jobs were really going to be lost should the network fail to renew its franchise.
“11,000 talaga? Sigurado ka?” he said.
He then added that it doesn’t matter if there are 11 thousand people who will lose their job compared to the number of people being allegedly abused by ABS-CBN.
“Anyway, regardless kung ilan yun, what’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation na matagal ng sinamantalahan ng isang kumpanya kung talagang ma prove yan sa hearing na pinagsamantalahan ang sambayanang Pilipino. What’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation?” said Dela Rosa.
Sir, allegiance to country first! Dapat di kayo nag-senador kung biased kayo.
Nakakapanlumo. Paano na, Pilipinas. Tayo-tayo lang ito. 🙁 pic.twitter.com/VVY3C9u0OY
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) February 18, 2020
That comment from Sen. Bato elicited ire of netizens who blasted his insensitivity and wrong sense of the situation.
Film director Kip Oebanda said Bato doesn’t really seemed to care about lives since he didn’t care about the lives lost in his tokhang anti-drug drive.
“Of course Bato won’t care about the 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN. It’s the same guy who said ‘shit happens’ when asked about a 3-year-old getting killed in the drug war. It’s the same guy who led the bloody drug war. For him, people’s lives have no value.”
https://twitter.com/kipoebanda/status/1229784984946270213
Rappler’s Paterno Esmaquel II meanwhile shared almost the same tweet as Oebanda.
“Ah, ano nga ba naman ang 11,000 tao na mawawalan ng trabaho, eh 30,000+ na nga ang patay sa tokhang? Ay sorry na-send.”
Ah, ano nga ba naman ang 11,000 tao na mawawalan ng trabaho, eh 30,000+ na nga ang patay sa tokhang?
Ay sorry na-send.
Bato on ABS-CBN shutdown, alleged abuses: What is 11,000 losing jobs? By @ABSCBNNews' @_katrinadomingo: https://t.co/F9xuW0PjjK
— Paterno Esmaquel II (@paterno_II) February 18, 2020
Netizen @mahor_nikko, on the other hand, reminded the Senator that aside from 11k employees of ABS-CBN there are other businesses and people that will be affected by a possible shutdown.
“Bato adds insult to injury with this remark. Bato, di lang 11k ang affected. Businesses w/ contracts w/ ABS-CBN are affected. The loyal viewing public, affected. Radio& internet followers, affected. It’s the whole country that’s affected one way or the other, stupid. Hello???!!”
Bato adds insult to injury with this remark. Bato, di lang 11k ang affected. Businesses w/ contracts w/ ABS-CBN are affected. The loyal viewing public, affected. Radio& internet followers, affected. It's the whole country that's affected one way or the other, stupid. Hello???!! https://t.co/L3LAmaRPFO
— nikko mahor (@mahor_nikko) February 18, 2020
Here are other comments from the netizens regarding Dela Rosa’s statements.
Coming from someone who pushed Duterte to put an end to the VFA. Simply put, he thinks he's worth it but the "just" 11 thousand workers aren't. Ka-DSS, aren't you proud of this guy? You should be. He really mirrors how you think and the kind of creatures you all are. https://t.co/VxbtS3Rw1A
— Lee Yeow (@DeadPoet1982) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/_NeoMarzo11/status/1229716489646657536
Wag kasi nagpapakalbo. Ayan nag evaporate brain mo nong naarawan. Magsama kayo nong #MochaUson na saksakan din ng katangahan tulad mo!
— @palacanton (@pusangkalye22) February 18, 2020
cancel visa mo vs filipino nation.
— Emsky (@firstimer69) February 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/lncealvrz/status/1229668198800220162
Si bato parang lobo kapag hinagis mo, lulutang lang. Kase? Puro hangin lang ang laman ng utak. 🙄
— Evelyn (@im_evelynL) February 18, 2020
Alam mo na ngayon kung bakit Cancelled na US VISA mo… pic.twitter.com/MgX5VTgc32
— Jimmy Z. Alba 🏸🇵🇭🏸 (@JimmyzAlba) February 18, 2020
