'Bato' says will endure 'plastikan' in campaign despite fatigue

MANILA - Administration senatorial candidate Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday said he will endure the "plastikan" or insincerity during the 90-day campaign period for May's midterm elections despite his fatigue. 

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief venturing into politics for the first time, said he often complained to his wife about the first 2 weeks of the grueling campaign. 

"Sortie dito, sortie doon. Selfie dito, selfie doon. Kamay dito, kamay doon. Hello dito, hello doon. Pagdating ng pahinga ko, pagod na pagod na ako," he told ABS-CBN News. 

"Sinasabihan ako ng misis ko na, 'Bakit ka pasali-sali d'yan? Sige tingnan mo nangyari sa buhay mo ngayon,'" he added. 

(Sortie here, sortie there. Selfie here, selfie there. Handshakes here, handshakes there. Hello here, hello there. When my rest time comes, I'm exhausted. My wife tells me, 'Why would you join there? Go look at what is happening to your life now.') 

The political neophyte said he draws motivation from the thought that campaign activities will be over on March 11.

"Nalusutan ko nga 'yung one year na pagple-plebo sa PMA. Eto pa na 90 days lang itong, 90 days na plastikan? Ninety days na smile-smile, 90 days na pagbebenta sa sarili,” he said, laughing. 

(I survived one year of being a freshman at the Philippine Military Academy. This is just 90 days of plastikan, 90 days of smile-smile, 90 days of selling oneself.) 

Dela Rosa ranked 11th to 16th among candidates with a statistical chance of winning in the Senate race, according to a Pulse Asia survey released last week.

He attributed his poll rating to his limited funds and campaign posters, compared with other senatorial bets, some of whom were flagged down by the Commission on Elections for violating rules on election ads. 

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“Hindi ko na-violate 'yan dahil wala akong pang-violate. Siguro kung marami akong pera, na-violate ko 'yan,” Dela Rosa said in jest. 

(I did not violate that because I don't have the money. Perhaps if I had lots of money, I would have violated that.) 

Dela Rosa said he will file a bill seeking the revival of death penalty if he wins the elections. Otherwise, he said he will assure supporters that they gave a good fight and should not feel down for losing.