Palace to Dela Rosa: Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magalit

"Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magalit."

This was the response of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on the recent remark made by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who said the Marcos administration should stop threatening senators if it wants cooperation from them.

"With all due respect to Senator Bato Dela Rosa, batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magalit. Unang-una po, wala tayong pinapangalanan kung sino man, ito po ay pangkalahatan, ang nais po natin sa taumbayan ay huwag maging obstructionist, para magtuluy-tuloy po ang magagandang proyekto at programa ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

(With all due respect to Senator Bato dela Rosa, don't take offense if a stone thrown to the sky hits you. First of all, we didn't mention any names, this is in general. We want the public not to be obstructionist so that the good programs of the President and the administration will continue.)

"Wala po tayong thrineathened na senador. Sana po ito ay napakinggan man lang sana niya iyong mga words na aking nasabi, para siguro po maiiba ang kaniyang impresyon at ang kaniyang tugon, kung narinig niya iyong buo kung sinabi," she added.

(We didn't threaten any senator. We hope that he listened to what I said so he would get a different impression and response to what I stated.)

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus PH, Dela Rosa reacted to Castro's remark that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. welcomes "legitimate oppositionists" in the government but will fight "obstructionists" in the administration following the completion of Eleksyon 2025.

"Kung gusto nila ng magandang samahan, magandang cooperation, do not start with warning or threatening the senators. You better advise her. Kung gusto nila ng magandang tulungan, mag-cooperate tayo para sa ikagaganda ng bansa, do not start it with a warning," Dela Rosa said.

(If they want good camaraderie and cooperation, do not start with a warning or threatening the senators. You better advise her. If they want us to help each other, let's cooperate for the good of our country. Do not start it with a warning.)

Meanwhile, in the briefing, Castro reiterated that the administration would only fight against obstructionists who only destroy the government.

She also stressed that in the eyes of the President, there's no Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas or PDP-Laban given that the midterms election is already over. Castro said those elected into power must unite and cooperate with each other, noting that politics must be set aside.

"Sa paningin po ng Pangulo, wala na pong Alyansa, wala pong PDP, walang anumang kulay ng pulitika, dapat lahat po ng nahalal ay magkaisa-isa, magkaroon po ng kooperasyon," Castro said.

(For the President, there should be no Alyansa, no PDP—politics has no color. Those who are elected should unite and cooperate with each other.)

"Ito naman po ay para sa taumbayan, huwag naman po sana laging politika ang pinag-uusapan at hindi po tayo makakilos at makakausad kung puro pamumulitika at pang-iintriga ang gagawin natin sa pamahalaan," she added.

(This is for the public. Let's not talk about politics all the time, we can't move forward if we only think about politics and intrigues in the government.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News