Senator Ronald “Bato†dela Rosa is attempting to portray himself as a victim of persecution, hoping to draw the same support and sympathy that former President Rodrigo Duterte continues to receive from his supporters, according to a political analyst.
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“Sen. Dela Rosa’s disposition these days is to make it appear that he too is being persecuted by Duterte’s rivals with the hope of getting the same support or sympathy that Rody is enjoying nowadays, as we are seeing with the intensified online operations to boost their image and popularity,†said Arjan Aguirre, assistant professor at the Ateneo de Manila University.
“As a candidate, I’m sure he is being advised to say or do things that can be related to the Dutertes and the controversies that they are facing,†he added.
Aguirre, however, cautioned voters that Bato’s pronouncements could be part of a calculated script meant to influence their decision or preferences for the upcoming midterm elections.
“Pakiusap, maging mapanuri at maging maingat sa bawat naririnig natin or nakikita natin sa mga ginagawa niya,†he warned.
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Bato is reportedly in an undisclosed location as he awaits the possible release of an ICC arrest warrant against him for being the chief enforcer of Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs during his time as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
The Senator earlier declared that he would seek refuge from the Senate should the ICC issue the warrant for his arrest, but he recently changed his tune, insisting that he’s contemplating evading arrest.