Bato on second Senate term: 'Ihinto na natin ang bangayan' | ABS-CBN

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

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

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Updated May 14, 2025 08:36 PM PHT

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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 NewsSenator 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 

MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who is poised to be reelected for a second term, on Wednesday believes "protest" votes propelled him to the top of the senatorial race, but the "cost" of that victory was the "freedom" of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte allies Sen. Bong Go and Dela Rosa are currently leading Senate race at first place and third place, respectively, based on partial and unofficial election results.

"It conveys the sentiment of the Filipino people," Dela Rosa told ANC's Headstart.

He added that his and Go's rise in the rankings came "with a heavy cost" of Duterte's freedom.

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Dela Rosa saidFilipinos expressed through the ballot their "dismay" at the administration's decision to send Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) who had investigated his brutal war on drugs.

"Wrong move, wrong political move... Yung sama ng loob namin sa ginawa nila kay tatay Digong ipakita namin yan sa balota," he said

(We used the ballots to express our anger at what they did to Tatay Digong.)


WORKING WITH ADMIN, OTHER SENATORS

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he was willing to set aside differences with other senators with opposing views, particularly those from the administration. 

"Sa lahat sana ng mga nanalo, I hope and pray na kung pwede, ihinto na natin ang bangayan," he said.

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(To all who were elected, I hope and pray that we can end the bickering)

He claimed that he and members of what he called the opposition have only been reacting to Malacañang's actions against them "in order to survive."

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" regardless of party or coalition.

Dela Rosa hopes Marcos and his Senate allies "go with that direction," saying the Duterte-affiliated senators "are not the opposition who will oppose for the sake of opposing."

He said they would be willing to support government programs they see as good. .

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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.

"Hindi nila (admin) kontrolado... Pagdating sa Senado iba ang galawan dyan eh. [We're like] 24 independent republics," he said.

(They do not control us. When  it comes to the Senate, it's different. We're like 24 independent republics.)


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