Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa called on former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines following the powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday, October 10.
In a Facebook post, Dela Rosa linked the tremor to Co’s continued absence from the country, saying the quakes would not stop until the embattled former lawmaker—facing allegations over a multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal—comes home.
“Maawa ka na sa Pilipinas, Zaldy! Palagi daw itong lilindolin hanggat hindi ka umuwi!” the senator wrote, appealing to Co to “have mercy on the Philippines.”
The Mindanaoan senator also described his experience during the strong tremor: “Kahit nakasquat na ako sa lupa kanina, nahihilo pa rin ako sa lakas at tagal ng lindol.” He ended his post with a plea: “Umuwi ka na please.”
As of posting, the Facebook post has drawn around 14,000 reactions and mixed responses from netizens, though it remains unclear whether Dela Rosa’s remarks were made in jest or earnest.
