VICE President Sara Duterte has endorsed the re-election bid of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying Filipinos need someone like him in the Senate to make communities safe through the continued fight against illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa’s new campaign advertisement shows the senator in a “dark setting,” enraged over critics and non-believers who attack his name and tarnish his reputation as a public servant.
“Binabatikos, pinaparatangan, at dinudungisan nila ako. Ganyan sila katakot! Pero sino ba ang totoo sa serbisyo at may dedikasyong magsilbi (They criticize and accuse me, they are tarnishing my name. That is how they are afraid of me! But who is the one who really serves the people, the one who is dedicated to serving the people)?” Dela Rosa says in the campaign video.
The mood lightens as the voice of the Vice President answers Dela Rosa’s question.
“Ikaw, Senator Bato dela Rosa! Ikaw, Senator Bato, ang patuloy na lumalaban sa illegal na droga! Ikaw Senator Bato ang kailangan ng Pilipino (It’s you, Senator dela Rosa! You. It’s you, Senator dela Rosa, who continues to fight illegal drugs! You, Senator dela Rosa, are needed by Filipinos),” Duterte says.
“Matibay ang Bato! Hindi matitibag ang Bato (Bato is tough! Bato cannot be crushed),” she adds.
In return, Dela Rosa assures the Vice President and his audience that he will protect the Filipino people.
“At misyon kong pangalagaan ang buhay ninyo. Gusto ko ligtas kayo. Itago niyo sa Bato (And my mission is to protect your lives. I want all of you to be safe! Cast that in stone),” the senator says.
Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Gov. Datu Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. also endorsed the reelection bid of Dela Rosa, saying the senator has contributed a lot in the development of Mindanao.
Dela Rosa was in Wao, Lanao del Sur over the weekend to attend the “64th Araw ng Wao Kariyala” Festival.
“Itong Wao, this is a melting pot of all people, of all tribes…This is the perfect example of how we unite. Even if there is diversity in culture, but we were united to attain peace and order in this place,” Dela Rosa said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Dela Rosa said that as chairperson of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, he will continue to craft measures to attain peace and order and eliminate illegal drugs for the sake of national security.
“Yan ang aking tututukan dito sa Senado. So, ako ay nakikiusap sa inyo na ako’y ibalik ninyo sa Senado
(I will focus on these at the Senate. So, I am asking you to please support me to make it back again to the Senate),” he said.
