Reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has urged supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte to grant his wish for victory by voting straight for the senatorial candidates of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in the upcoming May elections.
“Lahat ng partido gustong i-dominate ang resulta. So si Pangulong Duterte, bilang chairman ng PDP Laban, ay siya po ay nagnanais at nangangarap na maraming PDP Laban candidates ang mananalo dito sa halalan ng midterm elections (All parties want to dominate the results. So president Duterte, as chairman of PDP-Laban, is hoping and dreaming that many PDP Laban candidates will win in the midterm elections),” said Dela Rosa in a radio interview.
“So lahat po tayo ay nangangarap. Sana po ay ‘yung kanyang panawagan ay pakinggan ng ating mga kababayan para naman po maraming PDP Laban ang makapasok (So we are all dreaming. Hopefully, his call will be heard by our countrymen so that many PDP Laban candidates can enter),” the Mindanaoan lawmaker added.
Aside from Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, also running under the banner of the PDP-Laban that is backed by the former president include Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
Other senatorial candidates of the Duterte-backed PDP-Laban also include lawyer Vic Rodriguez—the former executive secretary of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., actor Philip Salvador, singer-turned-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, lawyer Jayvee Hinlo, Raul Lambino and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
Earlier Vice President Sara Duterte said her father wants supporters to stop discussing the legal aspects of his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During an interview following the former president’s birthday, the vice president said the former leader’s appeal is for their supporters to vote for the PDP-Laban candidates and guest candidates in the May 12 polls as part of their show of support.
“Sinabi niya, hindi na niya magawa ang mangampanya, tumayo sa stage doon sa Pilipinas…kaya sabi niya, ipaabot sa inyo na kailangan niya ang tulong (He said, he can no longer campaign, stand on stage in the Philippines…so he said to tell me that he needs your help),” she said.
“Kailangan niya ang mga PDP Senators at mga guest candidates ng PDP-Laban (He wants the PDP senators and guest candidates of the