During a televised debate, former police and corrections chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said that if police must arrest people who refuse to be rescued they must do so to save lives. File/Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA—Two senatorial candidates on Saturday got into a heated exchange over their opposing views on how to reduce the risk and improve the country's response during typhoons.
During a televised debate on CNN Philippines, former police and corrections chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said that if police must arrest people who refuse to be rescued they must do so to save lives.
"Kung kinakailangan ng pulis na mang-aresto para ma-save ang buhay nila, gawin natin ’yan," said Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa, who is running under the administration slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago, was responding to an alleged swipe by Erin Tañada, another senate bet from opposition's Otso Diretso.
Tañada, during his turn earlier, said: "Merong batas na People's Survival Fund na puwede pong i-access ng local government units to help fight and mitigate the effects of climate change . . . [Next] hindi dapat inaaresto 'yung mga taong ayaw umalis."
But an apparently irate Dela Rosa went up to the rostrum and objected to Tañada's alleged jab.
"Kasi ako pinapatamaan niya na aresto eh," Dela Rosa said.
"Oh, huwag mong arestuhin, iwan mo diyan, malibing 'yan sa landslide. Useless ang pagkapulis."