MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Saturday withdrew his certificate of candidacy for president in next year’s elections.
“This is a party decision,” Dela Rosa, who is running under the Cusi faction of the PDP-Laban, told reporters in an ambush interview at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office before withdrawing his COC.
This development left the PDP-Laban with no standard bearer.
Asked for the reason for his withdrawal, Dela Rosa said: “I am withdrawing because I am withdrawing.”
Hours before filing his withdrawal of his candidacy, Dela Rosa posted this on Facebook: “Mahal kong mga supporters, isang malaking karangalan ang 1 month and 5 days na pagsama ninyo sa aking panaginip na maging Pangulo ng ating bansa. Ngayon po ay sabayan naman ninyo ako sa aking pagising sa katotohanan.”
[My beloved supporters, it is a great honor for me that you have been with me for one month and five days while I was dreaming of becoming a president. Now please bear with me as I wake up to reality.]