Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa recently filed his certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections to formalize his re-election bid in the 2025 national and local polls.
Dela Rosa is seeking his second term in the Senate under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to continue his advocacy on public order and national security.
“Given the chance na ako ay mananalo, rest assured that I will continue my advocacy on public order and national defense and security. Doon po ako magfo-focus,” the legislator said.
“I will continue my fight against illegal drugs and criminality and for national defense and security.”
“For public order, I will continue my fight against illegal drugs and criminality and for national defense and security, we will see to it that our national defense posture is credible enough against foreign invaders,” the lawmaker added.
For the former top cop-turned-senator, the fight against illegal drugs should continue even through legislation. He vowed to refile a bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers if re-elected in the 2025 polls.
“‘Yung restoration of death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. Medyo hirap ako d’yan pero rest assured, ‘di ako hihinto d’yan. Ipaglalaban ko pa rin yan in the next congress kung ako’y seswertehin,” he said.
“I am going to risk my life, I am going to risk my career, my personal life para d’yan sa laban na ‘yan. Hindi po ako aatras dahil ‘yung pag-launch namin ng war on drugs ni President Duterte, hindi naman ‘yun ginawa namin para kami yumaman, para kami magkapera. Ginawa namin ‘yun para maisalba ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan dahil talamak na talaga ang droga,” dela Rosa stressed.
He also vowed to push for stiffer penalties against high-profile drug personalities as he noted that some of them are even running again for elective positions now that former President Rodrigo Duterte is no longer in power.
“We have to continue what is good for this country. ‘Wag natin hayaan ‘yang mga kriminal na ‘yan. Ngayon, may mga drug lord na naman na tumatakbo maging mayor. Ang tatapang na nila ngayon magfa-file ng COC. Mga drug lord ha. Nu’ng panahon ni President Duterte, nagatatago ‘yang mga ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan nagpapakita. Ngayon, nagfa-file na naman ng COC,” dela Rosa noted.
“‘Yung pagbabalik ng mandatory ROTC dahil kinakailangan talaga natin ‘yan ngayon, lalong-lalo na ‘yung nagbabadya na threat sa West Philippine Sea.”
In line with his advocacy on national defense and security, Dela Rosa said he will also refile the bill seeking to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program if he will be given a chance to serve again in the Senate.
“‘Yung pagbabalik ng mandatory ROTC dahil kinakailangan talaga natin ‘yan ngayon, lalong-lalo na ‘yung nagbabadya na threat sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Kailangan natin ng malakas na reserves and the only way that we can have a reserve that can be mobilized anytime is through ROTC,” dela Rosa added.
With more than 19 million votes, he was elected in the Senate in 2019 under the banner of the PDP-Laban.
Being a former Philippine National Police, Dela Rosa played a vital role in passing laws related in public order and security, such as the Anti-Terrorism Act, BFP Modernization Act, and the law lowering the minimum height requirement for applicants in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Correction (BuCor), among others.
A son of a fish market vendor and a tricycle driver, his legislative priorities also included measures that will address the plight of Filipino workers.
Dela Rosa co-sponsored the bill seeking to increase the daily minimum wage by P100. The measure has already been approved on third and final reading by the Senate.
Among the other measures that he supported are the bill providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers, the bill protecting the welfare of caregivers, the bill institutionalizing the teaching supplies allowance for public school teachers, and the bill providing direct financial assistance to Filipino farmers.
While Dela Rosa is known for his masculine and strong personality, his legislative work is a testament that the his heart has a soft spot for the general public and the less privileged. A heart that is tender for the Filipino people, but cold for the enemies of the state.
