No campaign yet? Dela Rosa admits still waiting for Sara Duterte to change mind

FILE PHOTOS Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa may start roaming around the country for his presidential bid after November 15, admitting that his hopes for Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio possibly changing her minds on her political plans was among the reasons he has not started his campaign trail yet.

Dela Rosa was asked Wednesday about why his campaign seemed to be lagging behind, while other presidential candidates have begun to hit the campaign trail by visiting provincial and local government leaders around the country.

“Siguro after November 15, we’ll start (Maybe after November 15, we’ll start),” Dela Rosa told reporters.

Pressed if among the reasons behind this was that he is still hoping that Duterte-Carpio would change her mind about running for president, Dela Rosa said: “Kasama na rin ‘yan pero as of now, alam natin na kung talagang hindi na siya magbabago, ready naman tayo. Tuloy-tuloy ito.”

(That’s a part of it. But as of now, if she will not change her mind, then I am ready. We’ll continue with our presidential bid.)

According to Dela Rosa, it is not yet the campaign period, after all, adding that his strategy of facing the media, which has a wider reach than targeting a specific population, seems to be “more effective” right now.

Nonetheless, Dela Rosa acknowledged the importance of physically campaigning for the elections.

“Sige lang paunahin na muna sila. Hahabol lang ako. Hahabol rin ako (Let them go first. I will catch up),” Dela Rosa said, referring to the other presidential candidates.

“Hindi talaga maiwasan ‘yan pero pag nagstart ang campaign period, we have to be there. We have to be physically within reach sa mga tao para mapaaabot natin sa kanila yung gusto nating ipaabot,” he added.

(Once the campaign period begins, we have to be there. We have to be physically within reach of the people so we can relay to them our platform.)

Dela Rosa, who is the presidential candidate of the ruling PDP-Laban party, has been vocal about being open for substitution with Duterte-Carpio, who has opted to vie for re-election as Davao City mayor.

The senator’s party, however, has stressed that their stand remains that Dela Rosa pushes through with his presidential bid.

EDV