‘Duterte boys’ Bong Go, Bato file COC for reelection

MANILA, Philippines —  Three allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte yesterday made their senatorial bid official by filing their certificate of candidacy (COC) for the May 2025 race.

Reelectionist Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa and actor Phillip Salvador filed their COCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the same time.

Sen. Robin Padilla accompanied the three aspirants to show his support for the candidacy of the three, who are all running under Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP).

Go said Duterte is endorsing their senatorial bid. He added that though he visits the former president frequently, they don’t usually discuss politics as the former president does not meddle with his political plans.

If reelected to office, Go said he would continue to pursue measures for promoting health and other pro-poor programs as he had done in his past terms.

Dela Rosa admitted that those from the Duterte camp are now considered “underdogs” in the coming elections, but he expressed confidence that this would also bring them to victory.

“When you’re at a disadvantage and beaten up, people will always gain your sympathy. It is deserved because we are Christians,” he said.

Dela Rosa said the International Criminal Court’s investigation into his alleged involvement in the bloody drug war during the Duterte presidency is just part of the “grand demolition job” against allies of the former president.

“We know what’s behind this investigation. But we leave it to the people. The people know very well what’s the real score. It’s up to the people to decide if it’s true or not,” he noted.

The former top cop said he would again pursue the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers and the mandatory ROTC if reelected as a senator.

Salvador said he is heeding the people’s call for him to run for the Senate.

If he wins, Salvador will push for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and other anti-crime measures.

Both Dela Rosa and Salvador claimed that the drug problem has again become prevalent with Dela Rosa saying drug addicts are back in the streets and drug lords are even running for public posts again.

Aside from the three, Padilla said PDP-Laban would be