Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday declared his willingness to fight in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to dispel claims that he is pro-China.
Dela Rosa made the statement in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks that his administration’s senatorial lineup does not include candidates who are pro-China, pro-Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), or associated with the controversial anti-drug campaign, Oplan Tokhang.
“I’ll be frank with you. I am willing to kill myself in the West Philippine Sea if they say I am pro-China. I am eager to wage war there in the West Philippine Sea,” dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview before the proclamation rally of Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
The former Philippine National Police chief, who spearheaded the bloody drug war under the Duterte administration, further challenged critics who accuse him of being sympathetic to China.
“Pro-China? I challenge them, if they want, I will give them a gun and maybe we will attack the bullies in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
China continues to assert its sweeping territorial claims over the South China Sea, including the WPS, despite the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its claims. The Philippines has repeatedly protested Beijing’s aggressive actions in its maritime waters, with tensions escalating in recent months.
