Former Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Bato dela Rosa said he joined politics to help President Rodrigo Duterte accomplish his anti-criminality agenda.
Dela Rosa, who spoke before village and multi-sectoral representatives during a drug summit at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police headquarters on Wednesday, said he is an expert only in the area of law and order and will concentrate on this if he wins a Senate seat in the May midterm polls.
“I am an expert only in the area of law and order and will concentrate on it if I win a Senate seat.”
He was welcomed by several local officials, including Palayan City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas and some police officers.
Dela Rosa said he could live well off his P14 million retirement benefits, which he could invest in the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) but decided to enter politics in order to help the President accomplish his anti-criminality program.
“Si Presidente ay kailangang suportahan. Sayang yung remaining years niya sa pagiging Pangulo kung walang senador na susuporta sa kanya (The President needs support. His remaining years as President would be wasted if there is no senator who will support him), ” he said, explaining that some of the President’s programs require legislation.
Dela Rosa admits he would be running against familiar names in Philippine politics.
“Puro po apelyido ng mga dating pangulo ng Pilipinas at si Bato, sino si Bato para makipagtagisan sa kanila (Most of them have surnames of former Presidents and there is Bato, who is Bato to compete with them?)” he said.
“Sa ibang area ay mahina ako pero kaya kong ipagmayabang sa inyo I have a clean heart (In some areas, I am weak but what I can brag about my clean heart),” Dela Rosa added.
“In other areas, I am weak but what I can brag about my clean heart.”
