MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop is no longer seen as an 鈥渋dol鈥� by a senator after 鈥渋nsulting鈥� a comrade from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
It was just last month when Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa addressed Acop with the utmost respect as he apologized over his 鈥渦nprincipled鈥� and 鈥渙pportunistic鈥� tirades against lawmakers鈥� flip-flopping stand on the previous administration鈥檚 war on drugs.
鈥淚sa 鈥榶an sa mga PMAer naging pulitiko na hinahangaan ko. Dalawa 鈥榶an sila ni Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson, aking iniidolo na mga PMAer-turned-legislators,鈥� Dela Rosa said in a press briefing during that time.
(He鈥檚 one of the PMAers who became a politician that I admire. There are two of them 鈥� him and Sen. Panfilo Lacson 鈥� whom I idolize as PMAer-turned-legislators.)
READ: Bato apologizes to 鈥榠dol鈥� lawmaker听
But on Monday, Dela Rosa took back what he said about Acop being his idol.
鈥淗indi na (Not anymore)!鈥� the senator said when asked if still considers Acop an idol.
When asked again if it was because of Acop鈥檚 latest remark against him, Dela Rosa said: 鈥淭he most insulting comment that I received from a PMAer like me. Masyado na siyang nakalalake (He鈥檚 acting too macho).鈥�
In a statement on Sunday, Acop advised Dela Rosa to just address the allegations against him in connection with the previous administration鈥檚 bloody drug war, instead of hiding behind the skirt of Vice President Sara Duterte.听
Dela Rosa spearheaded the drug war as the then-head of the Philippine National Police.
This and other issues during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte are being investigated by the听 House of Representatives quad committee.
Dela Rosa, however, believes that the House probe was a 鈥渄emolition job鈥� targeting VP Duterte and her allies, as well as her possible presidential run in 2028.
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