Reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday, February 13 criticized President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for making pronouncements seemingly dismissing the senatorial candidates that are aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, was referring to President Marcos’ statement that the administration slate is not tainted by the infamous drug war launched by the former Duterte government called “Oplan Tokhang” and corruption during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The President made the statement during the kick-off rally of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

“That was uncalled for, unexpected coming from a president,” Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview during the proclamation rally of the senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) at Club Filipino, San Juan, Manila.

“Hindi namin inaasahan na ganun, pero sige lang tanggap namin yan (We did not expect that, but it’s alright, we’ll accept that). This is political season, we expect political bashing, everything,” said Dela Rosa, who is the chief implementer of “Oplan Tokhang” during the Duterte administration.

During Alyansa’s proclamation rally, Marcos also vouched that none of the senatorial candidates he is supporting are pro-China and pro-POGOs or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

As chief implementer of Oplan Tokhang, Dela Rosa said he has no qualms in defending the previous administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, pointing out that the “tokhang” program was his brainchild.

Dela Rosa also said he finds nothing wrong with being branded as someone whose hands are tainted with blood as long as it is the blood of bad people.

“Itaga nyo sa bato, wala akong kakimi kiming madumihan ang kamay ko ng dugo kapag kinakailangan sa pag protekta ng buhay ng matitino (Cast this in stone: I don’t care if my hands get tainted with blood when its necessary to protect the lives of sane people),” he stressed.

He also rejected Marcos’ pronouncements of them being pro-China and pro-POGO.

“Sino nagsasabi na (who are saying that we are) pro-China kami, pro-POGO?…Ako, prankahin ko kayo, willing ako magpapakamatay dyan sa West Philippine Sea, willing ako makipag-gyera dyan sa WPS (To tell you frankly, I’m willing to die for the West Philippine Sea, I’m willing to go into battle for the WPS),” he said.

“Sabihin nyo pro-China? Hinahamon ko na nga sila na kung gusto nila bigyan ko sila ng baril at bala, atakihin natiin yung mga nambu-bully dyan sa West Philippine Sea (You’re saying we are pro-China? I challenge them, if they want I would give them guns and we will attack those bullies in the WPS),” he insisted.