Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa posted Friday old photos of him and former President Rodrigo Duterte for the latter’s 80th birthday.
“Happy birthday PRRD! My only birthday wish is for God to grant you good health and a speedy resolution of your situation so that you can come home ASAP and let’s continue what we used to do: riding and shooting,” Dela Rosa wrote on his Facebook account.
In a separate statement, Dela Rosa told Duterte to stay strong and remain hopeful as he celebrate his birthday in a detention cell in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Ang masasabi ko lang sa kanya ay itong lahat ng mga pagsubok na ito ngayon ay malalampasan natin ito. Malalampasan ito. Walang permanent sa mundong ibabaw. Everything is temporary. So magpakatatag lang tayo, laban lang, at huwag mag-surrender,” Dela Rosa said.
(All I can say to him is that we will overcome all of these challenges. We will get through this. Nothing is permanent in this world. Everything is temporary. So let’s stay strong, keep fighting, and never surrender.)
“The majority of the Filipino people, even those who are outside of the Philippines, other parts of the universe ay nandoon at nakikiramay sa kanya at gustong-gustong maibalik siya dito sa Pilipinas,” he stated.
Dela Rosa earlier described himself as the number two accused in the International Criminal Case that Duterte is currently facing.
Senator Bong Go, Duterte’s former aide, told Duterte to “trust the process” and wished him strength on his birthday.
“Sir Mayor Rody, maraming nagmamahal sa iyo. Sa iyong kaarawan, dasal namin ang kalakasan mo at kapanatagan ng loob. Manatili tayong matatag at magtiwala sa tamang proseso,” Go wrote on his official Facebook page.
(Mayor Rody, many people love you. On your birthday, we pray for your strength and peace of mind. Let us remain steadfast and trust in the right process.)
“Let us celebrate his birthday kahit magkakalayo po tayo. Ipagdasal natin siya. Ipagdasal natin ang kalusugan, kaligtasan at kalayaan ni Tatay Digong. Muli, happy happy birthday Sir Mayor Rody!” Go ended.
(Let us celebrate his birthday kahit magkakalayo po tayo. Ipagdasal natin siya. Ipagdasal natin ang kalusugan, kaligtasan at kalayaan ni Tatay Digong. Muli, happy happy birthday Sir Mayor Rody!)
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero wished Duterte’s safety and healing in the face of his current situation.
“Ipapanalangin ko siyempre ang kanyang kaligtasan sa malayong bansa gayundin ang paghilom ng anumang sugat sa kanyang isip, puso at pangangatawan upang maharap niya itong panibagong hamon bagaman siya’y medyo may edad na,” the Senate president said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
(I will, of course, pray for his safety in a distant country as well as for the healing of any wounds to his mind, heart, and body so that he can face this new challenge, even though he is somewhat older.)
“Bagaman sa kanyang buhay na paniniwala ko nakahanda naman siya. Ayon ‘yan sa mga binitiwan niyang salita nitong mga nagdaang buwan at taon kaugnay sa pagkuha ng ultimate responsibility sa kanyang mga ginawa noong siya’y presidente pa kaugnay ng drug war,” he added.
(However, I believe he is ready for this moment in his life. This is based on the statements he has made in recent months and years regarding taking ultimate responsibility for his actions during his presidency in relation to the drug war.)
At a press briefing on Thursday, Senator Imee Marcos said in jest that she likes to personally visit Duterte in The Hague to bring him his incentive under the revised Centenarians Act.
“Happy birthday. Matindi rin yung umabot sa 80 years old at sana makauwi na siya. At higit sa lahat siyempre, gusto kong pumunta sa The Hague. Kung papayagan ako dadalhin ko ‘yung cheke na P10,000 kasi expanded Centenarians [Act], qualified na siya. Otsenta anyos na,” she said in jest.
(Happy birthday! It is hard to reach 80 years old. I hope he could already go home. I wanted to go to The Hague. If I will be allowed, I will personally bring him the P10,000 check from the government because he is already qualified under the expanded Centenarians Act.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
