Bato dela Rosa vows deviations: There can never be Duterte 2.0

"There can never be Duterte 2.0."

This was the remark of PDP-Laban standard bearer and Senator Ronald "Bato" ddela Rosa as he emphasized that there would be deviations from the policies of the current administration if he will win in the May 2022 national elections.

While acknowledging that he was chosen by the ruling party to continue the programs of President Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Rosa said Filipinos should expect that there will be deflection from the present administration's policies.

"You expect na 'yung mga ginagawa ni Pangulong Duterte, 'yung mga programa niyang magaganda, ipagpapatuloy natin 'yan. But then again, we must admit, there can never be Duterte 2.0. There's only one Duterte, mahirap po kopyahin 'yung ibang Duterte, iba siya at iba rin si Bato," Dela Rosa said in an interview on ANC.

(You expect that we will continue the good programs of the Duterte administration. But then again, we must admit, there can never be Duterte 2.0. There's only one Duterte. It's difficult to imitate Duterte. Bato is different from Duterte.)

"You expect mayroon din tayong deviation from this purely Duterte approach, may kaunting deviation din because mayroon din tayong sariling nakikita na puwedeng ikagaganda sa ating bansa," he added.

(Expect some deviations because we also have our own visions for the betterment of the country.)

Dela Rosa filed his certificate of candidacy for president under PDP-Laban last October 8. He admitted that the decision for him to be the party's standard bearer was finalized about two hours before the filing of his COC.

PDP-Laban secretary general Attorney Melvin Matibag denied that the senator was a "last minute" choice to be the party's standard bearer for the coming national elections.

Dela Rosa stressed that his bona fide intention to run for president should not be questioned by the critics, adding that his filing of COC is a clear proof that he really intends to be the next leader of the country.

"Bakit ang intensyon ba kailangan long-term intention? Wala tayo, hindi tayo puwede makabuo ng immediate intention? Kinukuwestiyon nila 'yung aking bona fide intention to run as president dahil nga wala akong preparasyon. Yes, totoo 'yan hindi ako nagpreprepare pero ang intensyon malaking debate 'yan, hindi ako abogado pero very debatable issue 'yan," he said.

(Does the intention need to be long-term? They are questioning my bona fide intention to run. I admit there was no long-term preparation but the intention of my candidacy is a debatable issue.)

"Who are you to judge my intention? It is only me makakasagot niyan kung gusto ko ba o hindi, the mere fact that I filed my certificate of candidacy is an overt manifestation of my clear intention to become the next president of this Republic," he added.

Dela Rosa, however, reiterated that he is open to be replaced as the standard bearer as he vows to abide by the party's decision on the matter.

He also believed that there is nothing wrong with the substitution process as it is covered by the country's election law. Still, he is open to amending the law if it will result in a better electoral process.

SALN and ICC probe

In the same television interview, Dela Rosa was asked for his stand on certain issues and what will be his course of action if indeed he wins in the 2022 presidential polls.

Asked about publicizing the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Dela Rosa said he is open to showing his SALNs, noting that this practice is necessary for the purpose of transparency and that SALNs are public documents.

"Yes, wala man akong kailangang itago (I have nothing to hide). My life is an open book," he said.

Asked for his opinion if Duterte not publicizing his SALNs was wrong, Dela Rosa said the President was merely following the policy of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Memorandum Circular No. 1 was issued by the Ombudsman  in September 2020, restricting public access to SALNs.

"It's the prerogative of the Ombudsman. Alam naman natin 'yung Ombudsman, independent 'yan from the Executive branch of the government, very independent body 'yan. Kung 'yan ang kanilang policy, bakit hindi susunod si Pangulong Duterte," Dela Rosa said.

(It's the prerogative of the Ombudsman. We all know that the Ombudsman is independent from the Executive branch of the government. If that's the policy, why won't President Duterte follow?)

When it comes to issues on the controversial anti-illegal drugs campaign, Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police, said he would allow investigators from the International Criminal Court to enter the country and observe the situation in the Philippines.

However, Dela Rosa is firm in not allowing the foreign probers to investigate the drug war as the domestic justice system is working. He emphasized that he would protect Duterte and himself.

The intensified campaign against illegal drugs occurred after Duterte took office in June 2016. The governing document of the drug war was issued by Dela Rosa, who was Duterte’s first PNP chief.

"Hindi lang si President Duterte ang protektahan ko pati sarili ko dahil dalawa kaming co-accused sa kaso na 'yan diba. So protektahan ko rin sarili ko," Dela Rosa said.

(I will not only protect President Duterte but also myself because we are both accused in that issue.)

"To be frank with you, I will allow them to come into the Philippines and observe for themselves pero to conduct investigation eh sampal 'yan sa ating judicial system, sampal 'yan sa ting SC, sa ating mga courts," he added.

(I will allow them to come into the Philippines and observe for themselves but conducting an investigation is a slap to our judicial system.)—AOL, GMA News