Akbayan Party-List Rep. Perci Cendaña shows a received copy of the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte to former Sen. Leila De Lima on Dec. 2, 2024. Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — His face is in a grimace because of a stroke, Akbayan Party-List Rep. Perci Cendaña said Saturday in response to comments about his looks.

Cendaña has been receiving criticism online for his support of impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, with some comments bordering on personal.

“‘TABINGI ANG MUKHA’ ko dahil ang ‘BAKLANG NGIWI’ na ito ay stroke survivor. Yakap na mahigpit sa mga kapwa ko stroke survivor,” he said on Facebook.

(My face is this way because I am a stroke survivor. A tight hug to stroke survivors like me.)

The post was prompted by comments on his face, including one attributed to Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa daring him to come close so he can punch him “so your face will be even.”

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Based on screenshots circulating online, Dela Rosa allegedly made the statement on a news site’s post featuring Cendaña. The comment may have already been deleted.

“Mhie, sasapakin daw ako ng isang senador? Ang ‘tapang’ naman ni koya. Sana ganyan din siya katapang laban sa China sa WPS at sa pagharap sa ICC,” Cendaña said in a separate post. 

(Mhie, a senator said he would punch me? How ‘brave’ of him. If only he was that brave about China in the West Philippine Sea and in facing the International Criminal Court.)

Dela Rosa is among the officials of the previous Duterte administration subject to a probe by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the government’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

The government has acknowledge at least 6,000 killed in official operations, saying those who were killed had violently resisted arrest.

DE LIMA: DISRESPECT OF THE PERSON AND THE POSITION

Former Sen. Leila De Lima has also called out Dela Rosa for his comment, saying it was unacceptable.

"Hindi ito biro — tahasang pambabastos ito, lalo na sa isang taong buong tapang na humarap at nalampasan ang matinding hamon sa kanyang kalusugan," she said.

(This is no joking matter — this is outright disrespect, especially of a person who bravely faced and overcame a serious health condition)

De Lima said Dela Rosa's comment was also a disrespect of Cendaña's position as an elected official.

"Ipinapakita ng ganitong asal kung bakit kailangang piliing mabuti ang mga namumuno sa ating bayan."

(This kind of behavior shows why we need to choose our country's leaders carefully)

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