Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed gratitude to supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte, attributing his strong performance in the 2025 senatorial race to “protest votes” sparked by Duterte’s detention at The Hague.
“The surge in our poll numbers came at a heavy price—President Duterte’s freedom,” Dela Rosa said, referencing the former president’s transport to the Netherlands following charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Currently ranking third in the senatorial tally, Dela Rosa credited his votes to public outrage over Duterte’s arrest. “Our win is tied to what happened to President Duterte. These are protest votes from people deeply hurt by his situation,” he explained.
He also praised his campaign team and supporters for executing what he described as a “guerrilla-style” campaign. Dela Rosa noted the lack of support from local government units and limited access to resources like aircraft, prompting him to campaign on a motorcycle across the country.
“Running against the administration’s tide is tough. We couldn’t borrow planes or helicopters, so I just rode a motorcycle everywhere. Thankfully, our efforts paid off,” he added.
As of the latest partial and unofficial results, Dela Rosa has secured over 20 million votes. A close ally of Duterte, Dela Rosa is also a co-accused in the ICC’s ongoing case involving alleged crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration.