FILE PHOTOS Presidential aspirant Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Tuesday he is “not insecure” with Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio’s “support” towards the presidential bid of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Dela Rosa, who is also vying for the presidential seat, made the remark following the meeting between Duterte-Carpio and Marcos. Duterte-Carpio has previously said they talked about how her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) can help Marcos in his presidential bid.
Despite this, Dela Rosa, who also recently personally met with Duterte-Carpio, said he does not feel insecure.
“Unang-una, klaruhin natin, na kami ni Senator Bongbong ay hindi magkalaban, magkakampi kami. Klaro yan. Walang problema sa amin. But pagdating sa issue na yan… really to be honest with you, I did not feel any insecurity pagdating sa support ni Mayor Inday Sara [kay Bongbong],” Dela Rosa said in an interview with The Source.
(First off, let me clarify. Senator Bongbong and I are not enemies, we are allies. That’s clear. There is no problem between us. But when it comes to this issue… really to be honest with you, I did not feel any insecurity when it comes to Mayor Inday Sara’s support towards him.)
“Kasi very clear naman sa sinabi mo na ang sinabi lang ni Mayor Inday Sara na she will find ways and means how to support the candidacy of Senator Bongbong. Being a friend, normal yan na maghanap ka talaga ng paraan na matulungan mo ang kaibihgan mo na tumakbo,” Dela Rosa added.
(It’s very clear that Mayor Inday Sara said she will find ways and means how to support the candidacy of Senator Bongbong. It’s normal to find ways to help your friend who is running for a position.)
Further, Dela Rosa said: “Pero hindi naman sinasabi na, ‘I will support you 100 percent, Senator Bongbong and I will dump 100 percent si Senator Bato.’ Wala naman siyang sinabing ganun. Di po ako nai-insecure.”
(But she did not say, ‘I will support you 100 percent, Senator Bongbong and I will dump Senator Bato 100 percent.’ She did not say that. I am not insecure.)
Marcos’ sibling, Imee, earlier disclosed that Duterte-Carpio pushed her brother to run for president.