MANILA—Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Saturday said his bid for a Senate seat is still up to President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Kung pagbabasehan natin 'yung sinabi ni Presidente, bahala na si Presidente kung ano talagang final niya, kung governor o hindi na. Tingnan natin basta pagka-filing ng October malaman natin kung ano talaga," Dela Rosa told radio DZMM.

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said he will no longer run for governor of Davao del Sur in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections.

• 'Bato' to run for governor of Davao del Sur

"Hindi na po, wala na 'yan sa usapan namin. Hindi na po ako tutuloy doon," he said.

Dela Rosa was included in the possible senatorial slate of Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

• Imee, 'Bato' among senatorial bets of Sara Duterte's Hugpong

Besides Dela Rosa, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Presidential Spokesperson Sec. Harry Roque, and Special assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go were among the endorsed personalities.

Dela Rosa earlier said he was flattered by results of an opinion poll, which showed he was among frontrunners for the 2019 senatorial elections.

• Bato' on Senate survey: Flattered, but too early to decide
• 'Bato' says to 'definitely' run for government post

The BuCor chief, meanwhile, said the salaries of his personnel have "more than doubled" after he recently implemented the BuCor Modernization Law.

"Unang-una sa side ng mga empleyado, sila ay high morale. Masaya sila dahil sa katagal-tagal ng panahaon ngayon lang na-increase ang suweldo. More than doubled ang suweldo nila," he said.

" 'Yung BuCor Modernization law na na-sign into law nu'ng 2013 pa 'di na-implement ng previous administration."

Dela Rosa urged the public to join the agency's ranks as the current ratio of a BuCor guard to inmates is 1 to 200, far higher the optimum ratio of one guard for every seven prisoners.