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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Bato ready to give way for Sara Duterte's possible presidential bid

Bato ready to give way for Sara Duterte's possible presidential bid

Published Oct 9, 2021 05:51 pm

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Saturday, October 9, that he is willing to be substituted by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should the latter change her mind about not running for presidency in the 2022 elections.

Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa (Senate PRIB)

During a radio interview, Dela Rosa seemed to find no issue with him being replaced by Duterte-Carpio as the standard bearer of the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

"Everything is possible," he said, as long as the substitution is legal and supported by his party mates.

"By all means, magi-give way ako (I will give way). As I have said, hindi ko personal na desisyon na tumakbo, desisyon ito ng partido (it's not my personal decision to run for president, this is a party decision)," Dela Rosa told radio DWIZ when asked if he would withdraw his candidacy when Duterte-Carpio decides to run for president.

"Hindi naman siguro dapat kinukuwestiyon pa kung legal na paraan 'yong pagsubstitute (It shouldn't be questioned if the substitution would be legal). Anything can happen," he maintained.

Wearing a green Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) shirt under a red PDP-Laban jacket, Dela Rosa, in another unexpected move by the administration party, filed on Friday, October 8, his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.

He is supposed to run in tandem with Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, who submitted his COC for vice president last October 2, instead of President Duterte.

Even Dela Rosa admitted being surprised by his party mates' plan, disclosing he was only told to seek presidency at around 3 p.m. on the last day of the filing of COCs. But he claimed that PDP-Laban leaders have long been considering him and Go, as well as Sen. Francis Tolentino, to "continue President Duterte's legacy".

"Basta ako hindi ako umaatras (I don't back down easily). I am a good soldier, give me the instruction to do this, and I'll do it. So andito na tayo (that's why we are here)," the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said.

The Cusi-led PDP-Laban wing has not responded to media queries on how it decided to have Dela Rosa as their standard bearer.

The group was also mum when asked if the supposed candidacy of neophyte senator for president was only meant to prepare the slot for Duterte-Carpio.

The possible substitution would be reminiscent of President Duterte belatedly filing his candidacy for president in the 2016 elections to replace then PDP-Laban presidential bet Martin Diño.

Under the rules of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a candidate may be substituted by another aspirant from the same political party or coalition. Substitution may be done until November 15.

Duterte-Carpio is not yet a member of the PDP-Laban and currently leads the regional party HNP.

"Anytime, she can be sworn in as a member, and bibigyan ng CONA, so walang problema diyan (she could be given a certificate of nomination and acceptance by the PDP-Laban, so there's no problem with that)," Dela Rosa said.

"Depende kung si Inday Sara gusto tumakbo at gusto nya tanggapin offer ng aming partido (It would depend on whether or not Inday Sara wanted to run and accept the offer of our party)," he added.

Duterte-Carpio, on the other hand, reiterated that she will seek reelection as Davao City's chief executive.

"Kailangan pa talaga ng malaking tulak para sya ay mapatakbo natin. And it should come from the father," said Dela Rosa.

Related Tags

Sara Duterte-Carpio bato dela rosa 2022 polls 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS PDP-Laban
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