Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Saturday, October 9, that he is ready to face any issues that will be raised against him during the campaigns for the 2022 elections, including the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that transpired under his helm at the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Dela Rosa was asked about this after he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president, Friday, October 8, under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
"Well, expected ko na 'yan, iyon lang naman talaga ang bala na pwede nilang itira sa akin (I am expecting that, since that is the only issue that they can use against me)," Dela Rosa said in an interview over radio DWIZ.
"And I'm willing to live in hell, kung sakaling mang abutin sa puntong 'yan (if it reaches that point)...Haharapin ko 'yan, may bayag ako na tao, hindi ko tatakbuhan 'yan (I will face it, I have the balls, I will not run from it)," he added.
As the PNP chief at the beginning of the Duterte administration, Dela Rosa led the government's controversial war on drugs.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will be opening its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed by state forces for the killings in the anti-drug campaign.
In refusing to cooperate with the ICC probe, Dela Rosa earlier said he would "rather be tried, convicted and even hanged before a Filipino court before a rather than being tried, convicted and hanged before foreign court."
On Saturday, he maintained that he implemented the drug war to "rid the country of its problem with illegal drugs."
Still, Dela Rosa said he is uncertain as to how he will go about his presidential campaign as he admitted that he, too, is waiting for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to decide on calls for her to run for president, and replace him as PDP-Laban standard bearer.
The neophyte senator said he is willing to give way for the local chief executive.
But he maintained that they are not mocking the Philippines' electoral process.
"Hindi po ito biro, seryoso itong bagay. As we said, we are still awaiting for final decision kung talagang gustong tumakbo si Mayor Sara, I am open. I am willing to give in to her," Dela Rosa said.
"Kung di talaga, 'pag sinabi ng partido tuloy ka so 'yon na -- I'm a good soldier sunod lang tayo. at ito naman ay hindi para sa atin, para sa bayan natin, kailangan ng isang lider na medyo may bayag," he added.
Should he win as president, Dela Rosa said he will continue President Duterte's programs, especially the anti-drug campaign.