Bato not the best presidential bet but he's available –Matibag

PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag said Monday that Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was not the ruling party's best presidential candidate that they could offer for the coming elections, but he was "available."

"Well, he is the one who is available and also we’re not saying he is the best because originally we're pushing Senator Bong Go but sabi nga namin, an alternative is Sen Bato," Matibag said in a television interview on ANC.

"If we're talking of track record, he was a chief PNP, he was a senator for three years," Matibag added.

In a virtual interview, Dela Rosa said he “was not hurt” that he was chosen as the last option of the PDP-Laban for the post.

“I must be proud of it na ako ang napili nila, finally. Although last-minute na choice, but still being the top choice of the party is a great honor for me,” he said.

(I must be proud of it that I was chosen by the party, finally. Although I was a last-minute choice, but still being a top choice of the party is a great honor for me.)

The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi denied that Dela Rosa was a “last-minute” decision, saying the selection process was followed.

Dela Rosa's filed his certificate of candidacy for president in the May 2022 national elections last Friday, October 8, surprised many with some saying that it was a last-minute decision.

Dela Rosa, formerly the country's top cop, revealed that his decision to run for president was finalized about two hours before the period of COC filing ended.

Matibag, however, denied that Dela Rosa was a last-minute choice, noting that he was already considered before along with Senator Francis Tolentino and other Cabinet officials.

Asked in a separate press briefing about the substitution, Matibag said there was nothing wrong if Dela Rosa was replaced before November 15 as the Commission on Elections allowed substitutions and that the party was open to changes.

Dela Rosa's running-mate is Senator Christopher "Bong" Go who was the party's first choice to run for president, but he repeatedly declined the offer. — DVM, GMA News