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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'It's a protest vote', says Bato on result of May 2025 midterm polls

'It's a protest vote', says Bato on result of May 2025 midterm polls

Published May 13, 2025 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said he believes that the result of the May 2025 midterm polls is a form of protest against the kidnapping of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

It’s a protest vote.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday, May 13 expressed his belief that the result of the May 2025 midterm polls is a form of protest against the kidnapping of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa, who ranked high in the “Magic 12” senatorial race, pointed this out saying the outcome of this year’s election shows the public’s anger towards the government that sent the former president to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The reelectionist senator pointed this out, even though only him, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go and Rep. Dante Marcoleta, who were part of the 10-man senatorial slate of the Duterte-backed Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) made it into the senatorial race.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo ‘no sa ating mga kababayan at tayo’y tinulungan na makabalik sa Senado. Maraming salamat po at tayo’y natutuwa po at sinuportahan tayo, (We are thankful to our fellowmen and they helped us return to the Senate. Thank you so much and we are happy that we are supported),” Dela Rosa, who currently ranks third based on partial election results, said. 

Dela Rosa said his rise in the surveys came “with a very heavy price” and at the cost of President Duterte’s detention at the ICC.

Go, a fellow party-mate, ranked No. 1 in the senatorial race. He was followed by former senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV. 

”Ganito kataas ‘yung aming natanggap na boto (This is how high the votes we received), these are protest votes coming from the people who are very much aggrieved about what happened to former president Duterte,” he stressed.

At the same time, Dela Rosa thanked those who supported his guerrilla-style campaign. 

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said it was difficult for him to gain support from businessmen and local government officials.

“Ang hirap kumuha ng suporta doon sa LGUs na medyo takot din ma-bad shot kaya guerilla operations talaga ang ginawa ko (It was hard to get the support of LGUs that were scared to get in the bad side of the government, that’s why I opted to launched a guerrilla operation),” he said. 

“At least nagbunga rin ‘yung guerilla operations natin (At least our guerrilla operations yielded positive results),” Dela Rosa said. 

Related Tags

Rodrigo Duterte arrest Bato Dela Rosa Duterte Eleksyon 2025 MATALINONG BOTO 2025 May 2025 elections
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