Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (File photo from the Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who celebrated his 62nd birthday last Jan. 21, wishes good health and a good political career in 2024.
Dela Rosa told this to reporters just a few minutes before Monday’s press conference ended.
“My birthday wish? Good health [and] good political career — and to be able to help more people,” he said, partly in Filipino.
The senator said he was eyeing reelection in the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.
This was despite recent reports that International Criminal Court investigators had already begun their investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war.
Dela Rosa, who served as chief implementer of the drug war, is among those named in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
“I will still eye reelection. It is up to the people if they want to reelect a senator – even if I am imprisoned,” he said.“If I do get imprisoned.”
In the same press conference, dela Rosa told President “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “be man enough” and “tell [him] the real score” whether or not the administration had already allowed the ICC investigators to come to the Philippines.
‘God knows what’s best for me’
Later in the hearing, Dela Rosa said he would obey what the Lord would want concerning the looming possibility of him being jailed.
“God knows what’s best for me. If he says that it would be best for me to be in jail, I follow the Lord. If that is the Lord’s decision,” he said.
Asked if he would evade arrest if the time arrived, the senator immediately retorted:
“In whatever corner of the world, with this head of mine, will I be able to hide? I will get caught sooner or later. I will not hide. Just visit me in The Hague if you can afford the fare,” he said.