Duterte’s successor? Philippines top cop known as ‘Bato’ hints at run for presidency

Ronald Dela Rosa is among those touted by the national media as Rodrigo Duterte’s possible successor in 2022, along with world boxing champion and senator Manny Pacquiao

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Philippine National Police chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa holds an M60 machine gun during a Gun and Ammunition show at a mall in Manila. File photo: Reuters

Published: 5:55pm, 30 Oct 2017Updated: 6:28pm, 30 Oct 2017

The Philippines’ top police chief who oversaw a bloody war on drugs that has killed thousands of Filipinos hinted on Monday at a possible run for the presidency.

Ronald Dela Rosa, a stocky, celebrity-like general nicknamed “Bato” (Rock), who retires in 2018, has flagged his political ambitions, saying he was open to running for the Senate.

But in a speech after a flag-raising ceremony at police headquarters, Dela Rosa for the first time publicly suggested he may have his sights set on higher political goals.

“Wait for Bato to become president and I will quadruple your salaries,” Dela Rosa told his men as he denied rumours he would leave retirees out of planned salary increases.

Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa has acted as the enforcer for the firebrand leader’s war on drugs which had led to more than 3,900 people killed in 16 months. File photo: AFP

Dela Rosa is among those touted by the national media as Duterte’s possible successor in 2022, along with world boxing champion and senator Manny Pacquiao, and the son and namesake of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.