In another plot twist, a long time Duterte ally Bato Dela Rosa has filed his COC to be the standard bearer of the Cusi-led PDP-Laban faction.
While filing his COC, it’s noticeable that Sen. Bato Dela Rosa is wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago party shirt instead of the PDP-Laban faction. ‘Hugpong ng Pagbabago’ is the regional party of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Before taking a seat as a Senator om 2019, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is a long time PNP officer and served as the chief of the Davao City Police Office from 2010 to 2016, before being handpicked by then President-Elect President Rodrigo Duterte as the new PNP Chief on May 19, 2016.
Sen. Bong Go, who is also a long time Duterte associate, will be Sen. Dela Rosa’s running, while filed his COC earlier this week.
When asked if its possible that he gets substituted by re-electionist Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as PDP-Laban's presidential bet, Sen. Bato Dela Rosa says, "Eh di mas maganda…this is a party decision, this is not my personal decision." | via @JohnsonManabat pic.twitter.com/M4rUFRHoa7
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) October 8, 2021
It’s unclear if Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will be the ‘real’ Presidential candidate of the Cusi-side of PDP-Laban or will later be substituted by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte by November 15. I guess, we’ll just have to wait and see.
