Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa presides over the Finance Subcommittee C hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, on the proposed budgets of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, including the appropriation for the Revised AFP Modernization Program. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — “If you think Bato is a bad person, then please, by all means, do not vote for me.”
This was reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s statement after he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Manila Hotel’s Tent City on Thursday.
His remarks came after he was asked whether or not the House of Representatives probe into the drug war killings would affect his reelection bid. He was chief of the Philippine National Police during the drug war of the Duterte administration.
Dela Rosa dismissed the House probe as a mere “grand demolition job” against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.
“I’ll leave it up to the people. The people know better what is the real score. Taumbayan ang mag-decide kung talagang totoo ‘yan o hindi, then makikita natin yan sa magiging result ng eleksyon. Kung sila ay naniniwala na si Bato ay masamang tao, then please by all means — do not vote for me,” He said in a press conference.
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(It’s the people who would decide whether it’s true or not, then we will see it based on the results of the election. If they believe that Bato is a bad person, then please, by all means, do not vote for me.)
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“Pero kung kayo ay naniniwala na si Bato ay matino na tao at isinusugal ang kanyang buhay para labanan ang droga at kriminalidad para maisalba ang kinabukasan ng kabataan, then please help me do that because I am going to do that. I am going to risk my life, I am going to risk my career, my personal life para dyan sa laban na yan, hindi po ako aatras,” he added.
(But if they believe that Bato is a good person who risks his life to fight illegal drugs and criminality in order to save the future of the youth, then please help me do that because I am going to do that. I am going to risk my life, I am going to risk my career, my personal life for that fight. I will not back down.)
The senator then stressed that the Duterte administration did not launch the war on drugs for them to earn money. They implemented it to save the future of the youth who have been victimized by illegal drug trade.
“Look what is happening right now. Bumabalik na naman sila. Mga bata nawawala, naki-kidnap, wala tayong balita kung nasaan na yung mga bata na yan. So hayaan ba natin yan na palagi na lang ganon? We have to continue what is good for this country,” he said.
(It’s returning. There are children who are missing, being kidnapped, but we have no news regarding their whereabouts. So will we leave it at that? We have to continue what is good for this country.)
Duterte and Dela Rosa are among the government officials accused of committing crimes against humanity by the families of drug war victims before the International Criminal Court.
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READ: Bato dela Rosa urged to explain role in Duterte ‘drug war’ before ICC
