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MANILA - If given the chance, Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said he will run for senator in the upcoming 2019 elections but will leave the decision up to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking to ANC Wednesday, the former Philippine National Police chief said he is contemplating on running for senator or Davao del Sur governor in 2019.

"Senado, kung ako masusunod. But then again I must say it clear na hindi ako puwedeng susuway sa kagustuhan ni Presidente. Kung ano ang kagustuhan niya. He's the one who made me. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanya," he said.

A survey conducted from March 23 to 28, 2018 showed Dela Rosa as among the frontrunners in 2019 midterm polls, along with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and broadcaster Erwin Tulfo.

• 'Bato' on Senate survey: Flattered, but too early to decide

Asked if he already saw the survey, "Bato" jokingly said: "Totoo ba 'yun?"

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During the interview, Dela Rosa said he believes the PNP is now closer and more trusted by the people because of the reforms he implemented.

"Honestly, with all my conviction, alam na alam kong napalapit ko ang PNP sa taongbayan at yung respeto ng tao, nakita nilang ang PNP ay nagpapakamatay sa kanila…Talagang nagtrabaho ang pulis kaya nirerespeto nila," he said.

(Honestly, with all my conviction, I really know that I brought the PNP closer to the people and the people's respect, they saw their police officers dying for them...The police officers worked so they respect them.)

"They trust them…compared sa dati na maraming pulis na involved sa droga, ngayon mas naniniwala silang seryoso tayo sa ginagawa—maraming pulis ang natanggal, na tinransfer, tinanggal sa position nila dahil sa involvement nila sa droga," he said.

(They trust them...compared to before when many police officers were involved in drugs, they believe that we are serious in what we're doing--a lot of police officers were relieved, transferred, removed from their posts because of their involvement in drugs.)

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