PHILIPPINES: Bato Dela Rosa: Blood on my hands is for protecting Filipinos

February 14, 2025

Bato Dela Rosa: Blood on my hands is for protecting Filipinos

There is no shame in having blood on my hands because I protected the Filipino people.

This was the strong message of reelectionist Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. who discredited senatorial candidates who were involved in Oplan Tokhang or the last administration's war against illegal drugs.

"There was no one else involved in that tokhang but me, right? So with all due respect, I

will just answer. If my hands are stained with blood, I am not ashamed of that. If my hands are stained with blood now, it is the blood of evil people," Dela Rosa said during his speech at PDP-Laban's kick-off rally for the 2025 midterm elections.

"If it is necessary to get my hands dirty with the blood of evil people to protect the lives of sensible, good, and law-abiding citizens, I will do that. I will bet on you," the former chief of Philippine National Police added.

Dela Rosa said that negative comments against the PDP-Laban candidates only shows that they are not an "insignificant opposition."

"Nothing has been done but to leave what is left behind. We were silent. We were giving you the moment. February 11 is yours and February 13 is ours. You have the moment. But why are we leaving? Does that mean they are afraid of us?" the reelectionist senator said.

"That's just one indicator. Because if we're an insignificant opposition, why do I care who they are? That's up to you. You're insignificant. But the mere fact that no less than the President of the Philippines is living there, means we are somebody, right?" he added.

The lawmaker vowed that he will fight for the poor should he be reelected in 2025 as he criticized the recent remarks of the president on candidates who look like were just delivering vinegars.

Dela Rosa shared that he himself experienced selling the vinegar bottles that were produced by his grandfather to make ends meet.

"Let's not underestimate those who sell vinegar because it is not forbidden for a vinegar seller to dream of becoming a senator. I sell vinegar but I got a master's degree, I got a doctor of philosophy, I even became chief of the PNP and now I'm a senator," he said.

"So to those who sell vinegar, you have a good chance of becoming a senator... Go ahead and call us team vinegar... as long as the important thing is that we make the food of poor people delicious," he added.