VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon--Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a one-time presidential aspirant in the coming May 9, 2022 elections, says he's been rooting for Bongbong Marcos for a while now.
Dela Rosa, a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) stalwart, made this admission to reporters in an ambush interview here during the inauguration of a UniTeam-Tingog Party-list headquarters.
Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos attended the event, while Dela Rosa took part in it in lieu of the former's running mate in the polls, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio
"Before pa naglabas ng decision ang partido namin (Even before our party made a decision), I'm already for BBM (Bongbong Marcos)-Sara. Sabi ko na yan noon pa (I've said that before)," the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief-turned-solon said.
Dela Rosa was referring to the PDP-Laban Cusi wing's recent endorsement of Marcos's presidential bid.
"But I cannot go out officially hangga't di magpalabas ng party stance yung aming partido, lalong lalo na si (until the party release a stance, especially) Pangulong Duterte. So I was silent, but now, anong magagawa ko? (what can I do?)" he asked
Curiously, Dela Rosa filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for the presidency back in October. He was, for all intents and purposes, the administration standard-bearer due to his affiliation with PDP-Laban. President Duterte chairs PDP-Laban.
But just one month later, the senator withdrew his COC, ending such status with his party. So now the question is, when did he make up his mind that he was actually a Marcos supporter?
"Alangan naman tunakbo ako tapos hindi ko suportahan sarili ko, dun pa rin ako kay BBM di ba? Up to my withdrawal ano na ko dun, tapos na yung decision-making ko. Formality na lang (I can't run for president without supporting my own bid, and support BBM, right? Up to my withdrawal, my decision-making was done. it was only for formality)," he said.
Dela Rosa withdrew his candidacy on Nov. 13, 2021, leaving PDP-Laban without a standard-bearer in the polls. President Duterte has yet to explicitly endorse a presidential bet for the polls.
Marcos and the younger Duterte comprise the survey-leading UniTeam.