Bato dela Rosa says sorry over ‘shit happens’ remark

Neophyte Senator Ronald dela Rosa apologized Monday to the family of the three-year old girl killed during a drug buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal who he said may have been hurt with his “shit happens” remark.

Dela Rosa admitted that he chose the wrong words when he meant “unfortunate incident happens.”

“I apologize to the family for the comment na nasabi ko. Mali ang sinabi ko, dapat sa pang pulis-pulis na community lang yun na word, hindi pang-general public dahil nga prone na mabigyan ng ibang meaning,” he said in an interview on ANC television.

“Please, I will recall my words, imbes na shit, palitan natin ng ‘unfortunate incident happens’,” he added.

He said the death of Myca Ulpina was unacceptable.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap talaga na sitwasyon ‘yun,” he said.

He reiterated that no one wants anyone killed during operations, especially innocent ones.

“Pasensiya na po kung nasaktan ko ‘yung pamilya.  Wala naman talagang may gusto na may mamamatay, masama man, lalo na yung inosenteng tao, inosenteng bata, 3 years old. Napakasakit ‘yun pag namatayan ka ng anak,” he said.

The former PNP chief said he is not heartless as he also feels the agony of the family of the victim, but was just stating what happens in operations when things go awry.

“Bakit ako magiging heartless? May anak din ako, mahal ko ‘yung mga bata. Siguro yung the way lang ng pagkasabi ko, hindi ko nga sinabing collateral damage, ang sabi ko lang talagang nangyayari yung mga ganung insidente. At hindi lang yan ngayon nangyayari. Maraming beses na nangyari,” he said.

Dela Rosa reiterated that he will be conducting a probe on the matter when he is formally elected as chairman of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee when 18th Congress starts.

On June 29, police conducted a buy-bust operation targeting Renato Ulpina and another  drug suspect.

Police claimed Ulpina used his daughter Kateleen Myca Ulpina as a human shield during the shootout but the victim’s family and a witness denied this.

Four were killed in the incident including Ulpina, Kateleen, another drug suspect, and Senior Master Sergeant Conrad Cabigao who acted as the poseur buyer. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News