(UPDATE) Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday said he was "serious" about running for president in the 2022 elections, while willing to be substituted by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she change her mind about succeeding her father.
Dela Rosa said that while the PDP-Laban Party endorsed his candidacy, he was open to giving way to Duterte-Carpio, citing her "very high" chances of winning.
"[But] when you talk about seriousness, I'm serious. Kung ayaw ni Inday Sara na tanggapin yung offer ng PDP-Laban, then I am serious candidate," he told reporters in a virtual interview.
"Kung umayaw si Inday Sara, I'm sure I am in for a one big fight. I'm ready for that. That's how serious I am," he added.
Dela Rosa said he was "very much qualified" and was offering himself to the electorate "with a clean heart".
"Alam ko na may scenario na ganun na alam kong pwedeng tumakbo si Inday Sara at pwede akong mag-give way sa kanya kung gusto niya tumakbo," Dela Rosa said.
"I filed my candidacy both as a principal or a supernumerary. Pwede akong palitan anytime. Party decision should always prevail," he added.
Should he be elected president, Dela Rosa said he would continue the so-called Oplan Tokhang, which he launched during his term as chief of the Philippine National Police as part of the government's war on drugs.
"I will continue that. Alam kong very noble ang intention ng Oplan Tokhang," he said.
He recognized, however, the need to consider the recommendations to refine the police's anti-drug operations, which left thousands of people dead. He said wearing of body cameras must strictly be followed during police operations to avoid abuses and provide them protection.
Dela Rosa said he was surprised that he was picked by his party as their stand bearer. He said he got the call to go the Comelec office at Sofitel Hotel at 3 p.m., two hours before the close of registration for national candidates.
While it appears to be a "last minute" effort to nominate Dela Rosa for president, the move followed party procedures, said PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag, adding that Dela Rosa "fit" the standards of the party.
Matibag said PDP Laban was now preparing to campaign for Dela Rosa and his running mate for vice president, Sen. Bong Go, President Rodrigo Duterte's longtime aide.
He said the party was not waiting for Duterte-Carpio to file her candidacy for president before nominating Dela Rosa. Still, Matibag said anything could happen before Nov. 15, the last day of the substitution for candidates in the 2022 elections.
"We are open to any possibility, pero nakataga sa bato na si Bato ang aming candidate," he said, adding that should there be a substitution, it will follow the process of the party.