Bato dela Rosa files COC for president under Cusi-led PDP-Laban

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is seeking the presidency in the 2022 national elections.

According to PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag, Dela Rosa is the standard bearer of the ruling PDP-Laban.

His running-mate is Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, who filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president on Saturday.

Dela Rosa filed his COC on Friday at the Harbor Garden Tent inside the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.

He was wearing a Hugpong Ng Pagbabago shirt when he filed his COC.

PDP-Laban Cusi wing Sec Gen Melvin Matibag releases this photo of Senator Bato dela Rosa wearing HNP shirt, says dela Rosa will run for President in 2022 polls under PDP-Laban @gmanews pic.twitter.com/TR9OPwfmRM

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) October 8, 2021

When asked if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte would soon replace him as the party's standard bearer, Dela Rosa said, “Eh, 'di mas maganda."

Up to the last day of the filing of candidacy, there have been persistent calls for President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter to run for president. 

She said she would seek reelection as mayor in the family's hometown.

Dela Rosa said he was fielded by PDP-Laban as it was only him who could continue the legacy of the Duterte administration.

"I am fielded by my political party, the PDP-Laban, for reasons that wala na silang ibang nakita na magpapatuloy sa legacy ng ating Pangulong Duterte," Dela Rosa said.

"'Yung ating laban sa droga, kriminalidad, corruption at terorismo. At ang patuloy sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya amidst the pandemic," he added.

Before his stint at the Senate, Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police and led the Duterte administration's controversial campaign against illegal drugs.

The drug war is being investigated by the International Criminal Court.

Dela Rosa told reporters that the PDP-Laban had long decided that he would be its presidential candidate.

"Matagal na pero tinatago lang namin. 'Yun 'yung mga diskarte kasi kung maaga ka magbalita, ah wala, tirahin ka talaga. Tinatago lang natin 'yan," Dela Rosa said.

"This is a party decision. This is not my personal decision," he added.

Dela Rosa's running-mate, Go, had filed his COC last Saturday.

He was accompanied by Duterte, who was the original nominee of the PDP-Laban for vice president.

Duterte had said he would retire from politics. -NB, GMA News