It would be good to have a military man as the next Chief Executive, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a television program on Friday night.
That’s partly the reason why, as a dutiful officer all his life, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa trooped to the Commission on Elections earlier that day to file his candidacy as president for the PDP-Laban—with Duterte’s blessing.
It was 3 p.m. on October 8, the last day of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) imposed by the Comelec, when Dela Rosa—Duterte’s first national police chief and a longtime friend from their days in
Davao City—learned he would be the standard bearer of the ruling party in the coming May elections.
In an interview over radio DWIZ on Saturday, Dela Rosa said he got the call from his party directing him to file his COC for president, two hours before the 5 p.m. deadline set by the Comelec.
The party Dela Rosa mentioned is the faction of the ruling PDP-Laban led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and President Rodrigo Duterte as president and national chairman, respectively.
"I was also surprised," stressed Dela Rosa.
He said even the senators closest to him—Sens. Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino—were both surprised.
"Actually, it was a last minute decision, although for a long time, I was among those being considered, but the decision came out Friday," he said.
"In truth, I heard the party leadership has been considering us, Sen. Bong Go, me and Sen. Tol (Francis Tolentino). The final decision of the party leadership was made only yesterday (Friday).”
Dela Rosa related that when he arrived at the Comelec office at the grounds of Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, the President was no longer there. The poll office asked him for 20 pieces of pictures for his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) and COC.
"Then I rushed there, but the President had already left," related Dela Rosa who arrived less than an hour before the Comelec's deadline.
Responding to the query if his family fully supports his presidential run, Dela Rosa admitted they are still “tuliro (confused) and still can't adjust."
The Cusi wing initially endorsed Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go and Duterte to lead the party in next year's election. After repeatedly rejecting the nomination for the presidency, Go agreed to be the party's candidate for vice president.
There was no news on the party's presidential bet until the surprise move of Dela Rosa on the last day.
Despite saying that he is a serious candidate for president, Dela Rosa noted it is better if Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will replace him