Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa files his COC for president. Image from PDP-Laban, Cusi wing.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is the PDP-Laban, Cusi faction’s standard-bearer in the 2022 elections.
In what could be another surprise move from the ruling party, Dela Rosa on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president under the PDP-Laban, beating the deadline imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the filing of COCs for national posts.
His colleague, Senator Bong Go, will be his running mate.
The PDP-Laban earlier nominated Go as its presidential candidate, while President Rodrigo Duterte was nominated as its vice presidential bet.
However, on Oct. 2, it was Senator Bong Go who filed a COC for the vice presidency and Duterte announced his intention to retire from politics after he steps down as chief executive.
“Ba-Go 2022,” PDP-Laban faction Secretary-General Melvin Matibag told reporters in a Viber group, confirming that Dela Rosa will run for president in 2022 under the political party.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa is flanked by PDP-Laban president Alfonso Cusi and Senator Francis Tolentino.
In the photo, Dela Rosa could be seen wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago party shirt, the regional party of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Dela Rosa was Duterte’s chief lieutenant of his bloody war against illegal drugs, which is now under investigation by the International Criminal Court prosecutor for alleged violation of human rights.
Dela Rosa won as senator in the 2019 elections. Prior to that, he was Duterte’s chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), where his term was tainted by bloody drug war killings.