SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Philippines — Former chief of police and now senatorial aspirant Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has brushed aside former human rights lawyer Chel Diokno’s criticism of his joke about learning a language by lip-locking a local woman.

Dela Rosa, who also served as head of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) after retiring from the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Thursday that Diokno only criticized him because the opposition senatorial candidate was just “angry” at him when he blasted Diokno in a recent senatorial debate.

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Dela Rosa made the remark after Diokno, who is also running for senator under the “Otso Diretso” banner, slammed his “joke”

At the campaign kickoff of Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Pampanga on Tuesday, Dela Rosa said: “Sabi nila ang pinakamabilis na paraan para matuto ka ng salitang Kapampangan ay makipag lips-to-lips ka palagi ng Kapampangan para mabilis ‘yung transfer ng kaalaman.”

(They say the faster way to learn the language of Kapampangan is to always lip-lock a woman from Pampanga so the transfer of knowledge would be quick.)

Diokno slammed this remark of Dela Rosa as “irresponsible” and uncalled for. He even warned that such joke could worsen abuses against women.

READ: Dela Rosa’s joke ‘irresponsible, worsens abuse vs women’ — Chel Diokno

Asked for his comment about Diokno’s remark, Dela Rosa said: “Baka galit lang ‘yun siya kasi nabutata ko siya doon sa debate.” (Maybe he is just angry because I silenced him by my retort in a debate.)

“Galit ‘yun dahil nabutata ko ‘yung neutralize-neutralize niya,” he added.

(He’s angry because I countered his neutralize-neutralize.)

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Dela Rosa was referring to a televised senatorial debate when Diokno asked him about the deadly anti-illegal drug operation Oplan Tokhang, which he initiated during his time as PNP chief.

Diokno asked why PNP used the word “neutralize” in the circular of the illegal drug operation.

“Ang neutralize ay wala pong legal na depinisyon at madali po siyang ma-misintepret na ang ibig sabihin po no’n ay pumatay,” Diokno said.

Dela Rosa quickly answered that the opposition, where Diokno belongs, is the problem since they are the one giving a bad impression on the word “neutralize” in the PNP circular.

“Ang masama diyan kayo kasi ang nagbigay ng masamang meaning ng neutralize,” Dela Rosa said.

“Ang sa amin, neutralize means render the enemy incapable of committing further crime or injuries, so hindi ibig sabihin na kapag neutralize hulihin mo siya… neutralize na siya… putulin mo ‘yung mga tumutulong sa kanya sa krimen… neutralize na siya pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay patayin.” he added. /kga

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