Bato: Say goodbye to Philippines if corrupt candidates win

Reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa issued a strong warning to voters during PDP-Laban’s miting de avance at Liwasang Bonifacio on Thursday, saying the country faces a grim future if his fellow PDP-Laban senatorial candidates are not elected.

"Wala kayo ibang gawin kundi iboto itong samahan ito," he said.

(You don't have to do anything but vote for this entire group.)

He warned against being swayed by politicians who offer financial aid or favors in exchange for votes and urged voters to think about the country’s long-term welfare.

"Ang isipin ninyo sa Lunes, pagboto ninyo, ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Ang kinabukasan ng mga sumusunod na henerasyon na dapat sila ay hindi mga nganga sa problema ng droga, kriminalidad, at korupsyon," he said.

(On Monday, when you vote, think about the future of our country. The future of the next generation who must not be affected by the problem of drugs, crime, and corruption.)

Dela Rosa also said the Senate should be free from the influence of powerful figures and institutions.

"Magkakaroon kayo ng Senado na hindi hawak sa leeg, hindi hawak sa ilong na kung sino man, hindi hawak ng Malacañang, hindi hawak ng ibang branches of government," he said. 

(We should have a Senate that is not held by the neck, or led along by the nose by whomever, not controlled by Malacañang or other branches of government.)

"Isang Senado na independente at talagang sinusunod ang doktrina ng checks and balances na magpapantay sa mga pang-aabuso ng ibang branches of government," added Dela Rosa, who was elected senator in 2019 during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, of whom he is a top ally.

(An independent Senate that follows the doctrine of checks and balances that will counter the abuses of other branches of government.)

Dela Rosa ended his speech by asserting that his campaign was not about personal gain.

"I am not even campaigning for myself. I have to campaign for the future of this nation. Kung tayo'y magkaroon ng mga papatas na ang iniisip ay puro-puro salapi lang, goodbye Pilipinas. Pero kung ayaw ninyo mag-goodbye sa Pilipinas, ang solusyon diyan, itong nasa likuran ko," he noted about his fellow PDP-Laban candidates. 

(If we are going to get people who only think about money, goodbye Philippines. But if you do not want to say goodbye to the Philippines, the solution is these people behind me.)

Uniteam no more

Another candidate, Jayvee Hinlo, aimed his ire at President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and questioned the unity of the once-powerful Uniteam coalition.

"Marcos, nag-umpisa tayong lahat bilang Uniteam. Kaibigan niyo lahat ng ito," Hinlo said, referring to the party’s senatorial candidates. 

"Bakit hati ngayon ang Pilipinas? Anong nangyari sa Uniteam?"

(Marcos, we all started on the Uniteam. You were friends with everyone here. Why is the Philippines divided? What happened to the Uniteam?)

He went on to criticize recent administration decisions, as well as Duterte's being arrested and brough to The Hague, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

"Bakit, Pangulong Marcos? Bakit po, Pangulong Marcos, inabolish niyo ang PACC sa kauna-unahang executive order? Bakit pinadakip mo si Pangulong Duterte? Bakit kinuha mo sa mga Pilipino si Tatay Digong?" Hinlo asked.

(Why, President Marcos, did you abolish the PACC in your first executive order? Why did you let President Duterte get arrested? Why did you take Tatay Digong from the Filipinos?)

Four days before the 2025 national and local elections, the party kicked off their miting de avance at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. 

The 10-man senatorial slate, endorsed by former Duterte as PDP Laban chairman, boasts of three incumbent lawmakers: Dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta. 

The political party also fields lawyers Hinlo, Jimmy Bondoc, Raul Lambino and Vic Rodriguez; physician Richard Mata; actor Philip Salvador; and detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

These senatorial bets have called for Duterte's return from The Hague, Netherlands, and have committed to blocking Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment if they win. 

Surveys

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, senatorial candidate Gringo Honasan urged voters not to be swayed by the senatorial surveys.

“Huwag po tayo magpapadala sa mga suhol at sa mga surveys, bumoto lamang po tayo gamit ang isip, puso at konsensya, sa mga kandidato na sa tingin natin ay kwalipikado at handa tayong paglingkuran ng tama. Tandaan, kinabukasan ng ating mga anak at apo ang nakasalalay dito. Sila ang aani ng ating mga desisyon ngayon,” Honasan said.

(Let us not give in to bribes and surveys. Let us just vote using our minds, hearts and conscience for the candidates we think are qualified and ready to serve genuinely. Remember, the future of our children and grandchildren depends on it. They will reap the fruits of our decisions today.)

Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Willie Revillame campaigned in Marikina City with Senator Koko Pimentel, who is eyeing one of the city's seats at the House of Representatives.

“Kung ako’y papalarin — nasa kamay, isip, at puso niyo yan. Kung ako iluluklok niyo at ilalagay niyo sa senado para sundan ang kanyang (Pimentel) yapak, at siya (Pimentel) ang magiging congressman niyo, tutulungan ko ang lugar niyo,” Revillame said.

(It is now in your hands, minds, and hearts. If I’m given a Senate seat to follow the steps of Pimentel, and he will be your congressman, I will help your area.)

Independent senatorial candidate Ariel Querubin joined a local campaign rally in Gapan, Nueva Ecija and called for reforms to address poverty, unemployment, and social injustice.

He also tackled systemic poverty and lack of basic services as one of the roots of the country’s problems.

“Hindi tayo galit sa nakalaban natin, pero ang kinagagalit ko, bakit tayo humantong na tayu-tayo mismo, nagpapatayan. Samantalang ang problema pala natin sinasabi nila, kahirapan, kawalan ng trabaho, social injustice, poverty, police brutalities, military abuses, corruption,” Querubin said.

(We are not angry at our opponents, but what I am angry about is why we ourselves ended up killing each other. All this time, our problem according to them was poverty, loss of jobs, social injustice, poverty, police brutalities, military abuses, corruption.)

“Lumaban tayo against corruption, namatay tayo—anong dahilan bakit nagrebelde yung Ariel Querubin? Kasi nga, nakita niya na ang problema pala ay yung sistema. Yun palang gobyerno natin na may pagkukulang,” he added.

(We fought against corruption, we died–what is the reason why Ariel Querubin rebelled? Because he saw the problem was the system. That the government is the one that is lacking.)

Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas senatorial candidate Norberto Gonzales marked the end of the campaign period for the 2025 elections, stating that the public seemed unconvinced of the idea of a society where every individual is successful and cared for.

“Kahit manalo tayo ay hindi dapat magtapos sa May 12 ang ating tungkulin. Ibayong paghahanda ang ating gagawin patungo sa susunod na eleksyon. Gagawin na anting pormal ang organisasyon ng PDSP at mga kilusan ng sambayanan sa lahat ng probinsya at mga syudad. Pag-iibayuhin natin ang pag-aaral at pag-unawa sa mga pagbabagong itinataguyod natin,” he said.

(Even if we win, the fight and responsibility shouldn’t end on May 12. Preparations must be done leading up to the next elections. We will make the PDSP organization formal, along with movement of the community in all provinces and cities. We will improve our study and understanding of the changes we will be implementing.)— With Jiselle Anne C. CasucianMariel/ Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News

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