Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa (File photo from the Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa, who celebrated his 62nd birthday last Jan. 21, wishes good health and a good political career in 2024.
Dela Rosa told this to reporters just a few minutes before Monday鈥檚 press conference ended.
鈥淢y birthday wish? Good health [and] good political career 鈥� and to be able to help more people,鈥� he said, partly in Filipino.
The senator said he was eyeing reelection in the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.
This was despite recent reports that International Criminal Court investigators had already begun their investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 bloody drug war.
Dela Rosa, who served as chief implementer of the drug war, is among those named in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
鈥淚 will still eye reelection. It is up to the people if they want to reelect a senator 鈥� even if I am imprisoned,鈥� he said.鈥淚f I do get imprisoned.鈥�
In the same press conference, dela Rosa told President 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. to 鈥渂e man enough鈥� and 鈥渢ell [him] the real score鈥� whether or not the administration had already allowed the ICC investigators to come to the Philippines.
鈥楪od knows what鈥檚 best for me鈥�
Later in the hearing, Dela Rosa said he would obey what the Lord would want concerning the looming possibility of him being jailed.
鈥淕od knows what鈥檚 best for me. If he says that it would be best for me to be in jail, I follow the Lord. If that is the Lord鈥檚 decision,鈥� he said.
Asked if he would evade arrest if the time arrived, the senator immediately retorted:
鈥淚n whatever corner of the world, with this head of mine, will I be able to hide? I will get caught sooner or later. . Just visit me in The Hague if you can afford the fare,鈥� he said.