We’ll back Duterte, but we won’t be lapdogs – Dela Rosa

President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates former PNP chief and BuCor head Ronald Dela Rosa after watching the premiere night of his movie, “Bato The Movie: The General Ronald Dela Rosa Story” held at the Cinema 1 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong on Jan. 29, 2019. Looking on (from left, center) are Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. (Photo by ACE MORANDANTE /Presidential Photographers Division.)

MANILA, Philippines — Pro-administration senatorial bet and former top cop Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa denied that the five-man senatorial ticket of the ruling party would become lapdogs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking at the last campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Pasig on Saturday, Dela Rosa said that they would not be dictated by the administration should they win.

“It’s very different thing to be a senator who’s very cooperative, very supportive of the programs of Malacañang and to be a senator being dictated to by Malacañang. I’m in the first category,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino. “We will support the president all the way. That’s what we have agreed on. That’s our goal because we want to improve our country.”

He also disagreed with those who think that bets backed by the administration would become lapdogs of the President.

“They say we’re just lapdogs of Malacañang, that the principle of check and balance in the three branches of government — the executive, legislative and judiciary — would be destroyed,” he said. “They’re wrong… We will support Malacañang all the way, but we will not be dictated to.”

Besides Dela Rosa, the other candidates of the PDP-Laban are re-electionist Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, former special presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)