What if Sara Duterte substitutes for dela Rosa? ‘Mas maganda,’ Bato says

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa files his COC for president.

MANILA, Philippines — It would be better if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio would run in his stead for the 2022 presidential race, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday.

In any event, dela Rosa said he wouldn’t have decided to run if he wasn’t serious about it.

“Eh di mas maganda?” Dela Rosa told reporters while chuckling. “But this is a party decision, this is not my personal decision. Kasi kung ako lang ang masusunod, kung papatakbuhin nila ako, tatakbo pa rin ako.”

(Wouldn’t that be better? But I’m not the one making this decision. Because if I’m in charge, if they make me run, I’ll still run.)

He also admitted that Duterte-Carpio — who has been urged by her and the administration’s supporters to run for president in the 2022 polls — has not joined the PDP-Laban yet.

Dela Rosa is running under the PDP-Laban, which nominated Senator Bong Go as a presidential candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte as a vice presidential bet. But Duterte declined the invitation following backlash over PDP-Laban’s decision.

“Hindi (siya member). I don’t know how we will do it kung gano’n ang mangyari. I don’t know. Basta ako tatakbo talaga ako para maging presidente,” dela Rosa stressed.

(No, she is not a member. But I’m not sure how we’ll handle it if that happens. I don’t know. I will really run for president.)

Another reporter asked dela Rosa if his move to file a certificate of candidacy — and then declaring that it would be better if Duterte-Carpio runs through a substitution method — is not a mockery of election rules.

The Senator retaliated, asking why would it be a mockery of the country’s electoral process.

“Why? Do I look like a mockery to you? Do I look like a mockery to you? I won as a senator, number five po ako last election, number five ako na senador. Is that mockery?” dela Rosa asked.

“Is it a mockery to the 19 million Filipinos who voted for me as a senator of this republic? Napaka-insulto naman na tanong ‘yon? ‘Di ba? (That question is so insulting, right?)” he added.

Dela Rosa’s candidacy was unexpected, as the party, as mentioned earlier, had nominated Go. But his announcement makes sense as Go filed his COC for the vice presidential race.

Asked whether he really wants to run, dela Rosa maintained that he is ready and willing to do so.

“Eh magpa-file ba ako kung hindi ko gusto? Eh nandito ako para tumakbo bilang pangulo kaya nag-file ako,” he added

With the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy ending on Friday, it is unclear whether Duterte-Carpio already abandoned any plans to run as president for the 2022 polls despite pleas from her supporters.

READ: Sara Duterte’s presidential bid appears to be over as COC filing closes