MANILA – Leading senatorial candidates Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go have guaranteed the public they would not be a lapdog of President Rodrigo Duterte once they assumed their new positions.
Dela Rosa said in a television interview, remembering his debt of gratitude on Duterte, he will not be dictated by the Malacañang especially if the country’s betterment is at stake.
“Kapag nakita mong hindi maganda ang kapupuntahan nito, masyadong selfish, masyadong personal, masyadong pangsarili itong mga agenda na gustong i–endorso ng pangulo, eh siguro naman ‘di tayo bobo na suportahan natin,” Dela Rosa said.
“I know that it’s important to maintain the principle of checks and balances between co-equal branches of government,” added the former Philippine National Police chief.
Dela Rosa added one of his top priority when he assumes his Senate post on July 1, 2019 is to push for the re-imposition of the death penalty, at least for big-time drug traffickers.
Go, for his part, said he will still follow an order from the Chief Executive if it would be for the good of most Filipinos, while promising not to be dictated by President Duterte.
“Ang isusulong ng ating Pangulo ay para sa kabutihan ng ating bansa. Sa nakaraang 21 years, hindi po nag-utos sa akin ang Pangulo na hindi po ikabubuti ng karamihan,” Go said.
Based on the latest partial and unofficial count by the Commission on Elections, Go is at third spot with 19,921,300 votes, while Dela Rosa is at fifth place with 18,308,484 votes./PN
