Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has called for continued support for him and his fellow "Bisaya" candidates in the upcoming 2025 mid-term elections.

"Gusto n’yo ba na walang Bisaya doon sa Senado? (Do you want zero Bisaya representation in the Senate?)" he asked during a recent assembly of the Philippine Councilors League Region VII at Bai Hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu.

"Gusto niyo ba na walang manalong Bisaya? Siguraduhin natin na may representative tayo doon. Hindi pwede na sila-sila lang (Do you want no Bisaya to win? Let's make sure we have a representative there. It can't be just them)," Dela Rosa said.

Aside from tracing his roots Davao, the senator said that he also hails from Bohol, as his mother is from the town of Antequera.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that aside from Mindanao, which is his bailiwick, he also hopes to get huge support from the vote-rich Visayas.  

Dela Rosa had a strong showing in the Central Visayas region during his first run in 2019, as he placed second in Bohol with 354,114 votes, fourth in Cebu (786,613 votes) and Negros Oriental (221,570 votes), and sixth in Siquijor (20,108 votes).

The lawmaker also called on the local legislators to help address the country's persistent drug problem.

"Bantayan ninyo ang inyong mga anak na huwag gumamit ng droga.' Kausapin ninyo. Dito tayo sa side ng prevention (Watch over your children so that they won't become drug users. Talk to them. Let's bet on the side of prevention), prevention is better than cure, ‘di ba? We have to prevent them from indulging in drugs," he added.

The senator also said that local leaders can help the government respond to the issue of drugs by tackling demand reduction.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa also thanked the people of General Santos City for the warm welcome and overwhelming support he received during his visit over the past weekend.

The senator recalled that he placed third in the city during the 2019 elections.

“I am confident that I can continue to count on GenSan’s support for my re-election,” he said.

Dela Rosa was in the city to participate in the 36th Kalilangan Festival, commemorating General Santos’ 86th founding anniversary.  

While there, the senator joined the Mindanao Confederation of Big Bike Clubs Inc. (MCBBC) Bike Rally and then held a grand caravan around the city.

In his speech during the Kalilangan Festival, the former chief of the PNP appealed to the people to choose the right leaders.  

The Mindanaoan also said that if the drug problem was allowed to fester, the country could come to a point where its leaders were drug addicts.

"Dadating ang panahon na puro drug addict ang mga lider ng ating bansa. Bantayan natin. Huwag nating pabayaan ang ating mga anak (The time will come when our country's leaders will be nothing but drug addicts. We must keep an eye on this. Let's not neglect our children),” Dela Rosa said.