President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, File photo
MANILA, Philippines— For Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, President Rodrigo Duterte is the “best president that the Philippines has ever had.”
Dela Rosa boldly made such a claim when the issue of “personality politics” and Duterte’s possible senatorial bid was raised in an online interview on Wednesday.
“I will tell them that personality politics is bad if the person involved in politics is bad. But if the person involved in politics is good, then personality politics is good,” the senator said.
But in the case of Duterte, the senator said, “I believe the President is not only good, but he’s the best president that the Philippines has ever had.”
And yes, Duterte’s possible senatorial run in 2022 could also affect the winnability of other administration bets, Dela Rosa admitted.
“Yes kasi huwag na tayong mapaligoy-ligoy,” the senator said. “Yung politics naman sa Pilipinas talaga ay based on person. Sabihin mo personality politics, that’s true because you vote that person according to his personal circumstances.”
(Yes. Let’s not beat around the bush. Politics in the Philippines is really based on personality. You’d say personality politics. That’s true because you vote for that person according to his personal circumstances.)
“Huwag na silang maraming pa ek-ek dyan…totoo naman talaga ang politics sa Pilipinas e based on personality politics. We are voting based on personal circumstances. Bakit magboboto ka ba na plataporma lang?”
(Let’s be real. Politics in the Philippines is indeed based on personality. We are voting based on personal circumstances. Why will you vote based on platforms alone?)
“Hindi mo ba basta-basta ibigay yung pamumuno ng ating bansa sa isang taong hindi mo alam, hindi mo kilala kung anong personality nya. So personality politics pala rin talaga ang umiiral sa ating bansa,” Dela Rosa further said.
(You wouldn’t give the country’s leadership to someone you don’t know without knowing his personality first. Personality politics still reign in our country.)
His party president, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, earlier denied they were pushing for “personality politics.”
“What we are pushing ay hindi po personality politics. What we are pushing ay real party politics based on programs,” Cusi said in an earlier interview.
READ: No ‘personality politics’ in PDP-Laban despite push for Duterte’s Senate run — Cusi