Push Admin

Ex-PNP chief ‘Bato’ votes in Senate polls

Article (news)

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

<p>DAVAO CITY - Former police and corrections bureau chief, Senate aspirant Ronald dela Rosa on Monday morning cast his vote in the midterm polls, as the government’s drug war continued to receive strong public approval.</p><p>The former police chief cast his vote at the Apolinar Franco Sr. Elementary School in his hometown in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur province past 8 a.m.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa now at the polling station in Bato Elem. School in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/XHsoosDCCi">pic.twitter.com/XHsoosDCCi</a></p>— Dharel Placido (@dgplacido) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgplacido/status/1127727895063826432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Upon arrival, Dela Rosa refused to get accommodated ahead of other voters.</p><p>“Pagdating ko ayokong may VIP treatment sa akin. Gusto ko pa rin pumila kasi nakakahiya naman sa lahat na pumipila... Their vote is as important as my vote,” Dela Rosa said in a chance interview before casting his vote. </p><p>(I don&#x27;t want to have VIP treatment when I arrive. I still want to line up because I&#x27;ll be embarrassed not to because others did.) </p><p>Dela Rosa, a key figure in the first 3 years of the Duterte administration&#x27;s anti-drug campaign, is running for senator on a platform of pursuing the President&#x27;s policies including revival of the death penalty.​</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/04/19/dela-rosa-theres-no-bato-without-digong">Dela Rosa: There&#x27;s no &#x27;Bato&#x27; without &#x27;Digong&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Dela Rosa ranked 4-9 in the May 3-6 survey of Pulse Asia.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa casting his vote <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/TuV0VC5JQA">pic.twitter.com/TuV0VC5JQA</a></p>— Dharel Placido (@dgplacido) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgplacido/status/1127734350588440577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>A victory for Dela Rosa would reaffirm public support for the drug war, but University of the Philippines political science department head Ela Atienza said the administration must still tread carefully as majority of Filipinos still take issue with the deaths linked to it.</p><p>If he wins, Dela Rosa’s term as senator will end 3 years after Duterte steps down. For UP political science professor Aries Arugay, being in the halls of the Senate will give Dela Rosa some protection from any prosecution in connection with the war on drugs.</p><p>“If he wins, it might be more difficult for cases like that [to prosper]. Remember, the Senate protects its own, especially if you are part of the majority,” Arugay said.</p><p>“The Senate will not protect you if you are not part of the majority. If these cases progress while he is a sitting senator, you can count on protection both by the government as well as the Senate.” </p>

<p>DAVAO CITY - Former police and corrections bureau chief, Senate aspirant Ronald dela Rosa on Monday morning cast his vote in the midterm polls, as the government’s drug war continued to receive strong public approval.</p>

DAVAO CITY - Former police and corrections bureau chief, Senate aspirant Ronald dela Rosa on Monday morning cast his vote in the midterm polls, as the government’s drug war continued to receive strong public approval.

Ex-PNP chief ‘Bato’ votes in Senate polls

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Ex-PNP chief ‘Bato’ votes in Senate polls

Dharel Placido,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 13, 2019 09:23 AM PHT

|

Updated May 14, 2019 06:57 AM PHT

Read More:

halalan 2019

2019 elections

politics

Bato Del Rosa

Rodrigo Duterte

Hugpong

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.