MANILA, Philippines — As he is set to become a senator, the first thing Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked was: “Ewan ko kung may seminar dyan (I am not sure if there is a seminar for that).”
The former top cop said this in a CNN Philippines interview on Tuesday.
“O ano bang training dyan para matutunan ko para gawin yung batas at kung paano [gagawin] yung sa Senado (Or what kind of training do I need to pass laws in the Senate)?” he said.
“I’ll take the opportunity para matuto ako, para mapag-aralan ko yung mga actions (I will take the opportunity to learn. I will study and plan my actions),” Dela Rosa added.
Partial and unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) mirrored by the Inquirer transparency showed that Dela Rosa was in the fifth spot, with 18,318,936 votes, as of 10:57 p.m. Tuesday.
READ: Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa top Senate race in Davao City
When it was suggested that Dela Rosa should take courses at the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), he said in jest: “Ah pagUP, di na ako pupunta roon, delikado ako sa lugar na ‘yan (I’m not going to venture there. I’m not safe in that place)!”
Asked why he did not want to set foot at the state university, he answered: “Anti-military’ yan lugar na ‘yan, ayaw ko pumunta dyan, anti-police ‘yan (That place is anti-military. I don’t want to go there. They are anti-police)!”
He added that he might get by with a little help from his friends to get ready for his Senate post, especially from reelectionists Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and JV Ejercito.
“Magtawag tawag ako kina Koko Pimentel, JV Ejercito kung ano ba talaga ang trabaho ng senador,” he said. “What do I need to prepare para pagpasok ko, hindi na ito katawa-tawa.”
(I’ll call Koko Pimentel, JV Ejercito and I’ll ask what’s the work of a senator and what do I need to prepare so when I join them I wouldn’t be a laughing stock.)
The senatorial bet said that aside from results of past surveys that showed significant support for his candidacy, he was also welcomed by the masses, making him confident that he’ll secure a Senate seat.
And is he ready to become a senator?
“Ready na! Ready na!” a seemingly hesitant Dela Rosa replied. (Editor: Eden Estopace)