Duterte can still be Senate president — Bato

MANILA, Philippines — While he announced his plans to retire from politics, President Duterte can still be the next Senate president after the May 2022 presidential and national elections, Sen. Bato dela Rosa said yesterday.

Dela Rosa said the President, as a lawyer with his vast experience in the government service, could be useful in crafting laws if elected as a senator next year.

“His wealth of experience can be used by the Senate, and maybe there will be a senator who is not grandstanding. He will only speak if necessary, he is very simple as the President, it is good that our senators are not greedy for the microphone,” dela Rosa said in an interview over dwIZ.

Dela Rosa said the Senate is not as stressful compared to Malacañang or the executive branch. He explained that senators have only Monday to Wednesday plenary sessions, which are held in the afternoon. “It is also possible if he wants to run for the Senate, it is not against the law, there is no problem, I will support him.”

Dela Rosa said PDP-Laban and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said there were indications that President Duterte might run for senator and other party senatorial candidates are offering their slots to him.

He added that if many members of their party would be elected to the Senate, he will move to elect Duterte as the next Senate president.

“I will vote to make him Senate president, the styles of other senators will be disciplined and ashamed if your Senate president used to be the president. They will be ashamed to waste time or (do) so-called filibustering,” he noted.

But dela Rosa was quick to clarify that he could not initiate such a move if he is elected president.

When asked if he will initiate the voting to make Duterte the next Senate president, Dela Rosa quickly answered “Yes, when I don’t get to Malacañang. But when I go to Malacañang, the move will be initiated by Sen. Francis Tolentino,” dela Rosa laughed.

“I’m just kidding, you might say I’m assuming,” said dela Rosa, who is the standard bearer of the administration’s PDP-Laban party. He, however, maintained he is ready to be elected president.