Daven Tamayo

Bato on second Senate term: 'Ihinto na natin ang bangayan'

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17472260790391747226089904.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. <em>Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa, who is poised to be reelected for a second term, on Wednesday believes &quot;protest&quot; votes propelled him to the top of the senatorial race, but the &quot;cost&quot; of that victory was the &quot;freedom&quot; of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Duterte allies Sen. Bong Go and Dela Rosa are <a href="https://halalanresults.abs-cbn.com/">currently leading</a> Senate race at first place and third place, respectively, based on partial and unofficial election results.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/bong-go-on-taking-top-senate-spot-para-akong-nabunutan-ng-tinik-2317">Bong Go on taking top Senate spot: &#x27;Para akong nabunutan ng tinik&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;It conveys the sentiment of the Filipino people,&quot; Dela Rosa told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>He added that his and Go&#x27;s rise in the rankings came &quot;with a heavy cost&quot; of Duterte&#x27;s freedom.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XhhHq6B3I0A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Dela Rosa saidFilipinos expressed through the ballot their &quot;dismay&quot; at the administration&#x27;s decision to send Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) who had investigated his brutal war on drugs.</p><p>&quot;Wrong move, wrong political move... Yung sama ng loob namin sa ginawa nila kay tatay Digong ipakita namin yan sa balota,&quot; he said</p><p>(We used the ballots to express our anger at what they did to Tatay Digong.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WORKING WITH ADMIN, OTHER SENATORS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he was willing to set aside differences with other senators with opposing views, particularly those from the administration. </p><p>&quot;Sa lahat sana ng mga nanalo, I hope and pray na kung pwede, ihinto na natin ang bangayan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(To all who were elected, I hope and pray that we can end the bickering)</p><p>He claimed that he and members of what he called the opposition have only been reacting to Malacañang&#x27;s actions against them &quot;in order to survive.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/13/-god-is-good-god-is-fair-bong-go-expresses-gratitude-for-topping-senate-race-1514">‘God is good, God is fair,’ says Bong Go after topping Senate race</a></div><p>On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the defeat of some Senate bets he endorsed and urged winners to work with the administration towards an “honest government&quot; regardless of party or coalition.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/13/marcos-jr-we-may-not-have-won-every-seat-but-our-work-and-mission-continue-1424">Marcos Jr.: We may not have won every seat, but our work and mission continue</a></div><p>Dela Rosa hopes Marcos and his Senate allies &quot;go with that direction,&quot; saying the Duterte-affiliated senators &quot;are not the opposition who will oppose for the sake of opposing.&quot;</p><p>He said they would be willing to support government programs they see as good. .</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/13/chr-hails-innovative-efforts-by-comelec-watchdogs-decry-violence-glitch-1529">Halalan 2025: CHR hails &#x27;innovative&#x27; efforts by Comelec; watchdogs decry violence, glitch</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/philippines-heads-to-polls-with-marcos-duterte-feud-centre-stage-0904"></a></div><p>Meanwhile, Dela Rosa also commented on the possible fate of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte with the composition of the upcoming Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.</p><p>&quot;Hindi nila (admin) kontrolado... Pagdating sa Senado iba ang galawan dyan eh. [We&#x27;re like] 24 independent republics,&quot; he said.</p><p>(They do not control us. When  it comes to the Senate, it&#x27;s different. We&#x27;re like 24 independent republics.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUl2gvTbvlc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Bato Dela Rosa believes Filipino voters expressed through the ballot their "dismay" with the administration's decision to send Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC.</p>

Sen. Bato Dela Rosa believes Filipino voters expressed through the ballot their "dismay" with the administration's decision to send Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC.