Senator Ronald Dela Rosa during the opening of the 18th Congress at the Philippine Senate on July 22, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE 2) — Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is sorry for mocking Akbayan Party-List Rep. Perci Cendaña and saying he would punch him to adjust his face, which has been affected by a stroke.

Dela Rosa's comment prompted Cendaña to fire back and challenge him to use his "courage" in opposing Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea and in facing the International Criminal Court investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

"The past few days have weighed heavily on Filipinos, especially sa aming mga Mindanaoans at ibang Cebuano-speaking people (especially for us Mindanaons and other Cebuano-speaking people)," Dela Rosa, who is from Davao del Sur, said. 

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"Maraming nagalit, at dahil sa nag-empathize ako sa galit nila, nakapagbitiw ako ng mga salitang hindi maganda at nakapanakit ng damdamin ng iba," he said.

(Many people were angry and because I empathize with their anger, I used words that were inappropriate and hurtful)

More than 200 House members moved to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte last Wednesday, including 41 of 60 representatives from Mindanao.

Dela Rosa made the comment in reaction to Cendaña's statement that Duterte shouldn't compare her impeachment to a breakup because the proceedings are about accountability.

"I apologize for what I said and did, particularly in failing to see the bigger picture. My apologies to Congressman Perci Cendana for my offensive comments on his person. I wish him good health," Dela Rosa of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino said on Facebook on Sunday.

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'KEEP OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE RATIONAL AND HUMANE'

In a statement sent to ABS-CBN News on Sunday, Cendaña said he welcomes Dela Rosa's apology, adding he hopes the senator will extend the apology "to all stroke survivors who were hurt by his remarks."

He added: "Hindi tayo balat sibuyas, pero ibang usapan (We're not onion-skinned, but it's a different matter) when a public servant of such high position uses his voice to threaten people with violence and discriminate people with health concerns."

"Nawa’y magsilbi itong mahalagang aral, na ang tunay na lider ay hindi lamang may kapangyarihan kundi may malasakit, to keep our political discourse rational and humane, at ang panawagan ng pananagutan ay hindi personal na atake kanino man kundi responsibilidad ng lahat ng mamamayan," he also said.

(May this serve as a valuable lesson that a true leader not only has power but also compassion, to keep our political discourse rational and humane, and that calls for accountability are not personal attacks but are the responsibility of all citizens)

Cendaña said he will focus his attention on strengthening evidence for Duterte's impeachment trial.

'DELA ROSA'S COMMENTS REINFORCE HARMFUL STEREOTYPES' 

Former Sen. Leila De Lima called out Dela Rosa for his comment, saying it was unacceptable and was disrespectful of Cendaña as a person and as a House member.

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

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

Health and medical advocates also called on the Senate to hold Dela Rosa accountable for the comment and threat, saying lawmakers "must champion, not ridicule, the rights and dignity of all Filipinos—especially those living with disabilities."

They said Dela Rosa's actions also "reinforce harmful stereotypes and deepen discrimination" against people with various health concerns.

The incident also saw members of the Makabayan bloc, with which Akbayan has ideological differences, coming to Cendaña's defense.

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro said Dela Rosa's comments were "not only cruel but reflect the kind of toxic politics that the Dutertes represent."

Former ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, in the same statement, said Dela Rosa should stick to the issues.

"Masyadong below the belt ang ginawa niya at hindi asal ng isang senador (What he said was below the belt and unbecoming of a senator)."

Dela Rosa on Sunday said he takes "full responsibility for the hurt my words have caused." — with Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News