Press Release - Bato Dela Rosa seeks Senate re-election to continue advocacy on public order, national security

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Thursday filed his certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections to formalize his re-election bid in the 2025 national and local polls.

Dela Rosa is seeking his second term in the Senate under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to continue his advocacy on public order and national security.

"Given the chance na ako ay mananalo, rest assured that I will continue my advocacy on public order and national defense and security. Doon po ako magfo-focus," Dela Rosa said.

"For public order, I will continue my fight against illegal drugs and criminality and for national defense and security, we will see to it that our national defense posture is credible enough against foreign invaders," he said.

For the former top cop-turned-senator, the fight against illegal drugs should continue even through legislation. He vowed to refile a bill seeking to reimpose death penalty for high-level drug traffickers if re-elected in the 2025 polls.

"'Yung restoration of death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. Medyo hirap ako d'yan pero rest assured, 'di ako hihinto d'yan. Ipaglalaban ko pa rin yan in the next congress kung ako'y seswertehin," the Mindanaoan lawmaker said.

"I am going to risk my life, I am going to risk my career, my personal life para d'yan sa laban na 'yan. Hindi po ako aatras dahil 'yung pag-launch namin ng war on drugs ni President Duterte, hindi naman 'yun ginawa namin para kami yumaman, para kami magkapera. Ginawa namin 'yun para maisalba ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan dahil talamak na talaga ang droga," he stressed.

Dela Rosa also vowed to push for stiffer penalties against high-profile drug personalities as he noted that some of them are even running again for elective positions now that former President Rodrigo Duterte is no longer in power.

"We have to continue what is good for this country. 'Wag natin hayaan 'yang mga kriminal na 'yan. Ngayon, may mga drug lord na naman na tumatakbo maging mayor. Ang tatapang na nila ngayon magfa-file ng COC. Mga drug lord ha. Nu'ng panahon ni President Duterte, nagatatago 'yang mga 'yan. Hindi 'yan nagpapakita. Ngayon, nagfa-file na naman ng