Bato: Honesty still important in 2019 polls

Former top cop Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. INQUIRER.net file photo / Gabriel Pabico Lalu

MANILA, Philippines — To former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, honesty is still important in the 2019 elections.

This is contrary to what Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago chair Sara Duterte-Carpio’s statement that “honesty should not be an issue” in the upcoming midterm polls.

“Yes, mahalaga pa rin,” Dela Rosa said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel on Tuesday when asked if honesty is still important in the 2019 elections.

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However, Dela Rosa on Tuesday explained that Duterte-Carpio could have issued the remark “out of frustration.”

“Nasabi lang ni Inday [Sara] ‘yun out of frustration dahil yung kabila siguro sige lang hanap ng butas, hindi na lang magpresenta ng sarili nila, sige lang hanap ng mga negative dito sa kabila,” he added.

The former police chief insisted that honesty is still important for future leaders in the country.

“Kailangan pa rin ‘yung honest ka dahil kung puro tayo dito sinungaling, eh ‘di magiging sinungaling Pilipinas dito,” he said.

Duterte-Carpio earlier issued the statement as she accused opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano of lying.

She said there is no candidate that isn’t lying, therefore honesty should not be an issue in the elections.

“Walang isang kandidato diyan na hindi nagsisinungaling kaya hindi dapat nagiging issue ang honesty ngayon,” Duterte-Carpio earlier said in an interview. /jpv

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