Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is reportedly considering a Senate bid in the 2025 midterm elections, as stated by Senator Ronald dela Rosa during a recent virtual interview. This consideration comes in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into Duterte’s administration.
Dela Rosa, a key figure in the ruling PDP-Laban party, shared insights into Duterte’s potential candidacy. “Isa ‘yan sa posibilidad, pwedeng mangyari,” he said, noting that the idea has been discussed in party meetings. “Majority ng aming kasamahan sa partido ay gustong tumakbo si Pangulong Duterte,” Dela Rosa added, reflecting the party’s support for Duterte’s run.
Dela Rosa emphasized the party’s excitement about Duterte’s potential candidacy but clarified that the final decision lies with Duterte. “Everyone is excited kung tumakbo siya, but the final say remains with the former president,” he remarked.
Addressing concerns about Duterte seeking a Senate seat for protection from the ICC probe, Dela Rosa assured that this wasn’t the case. “Hindi naman siguro, hindi naman for protection purposes,” he stated. He expressed confidence in the current government’s ability to protect the former president, saying, “Hindi naman niya kailangan ng additional protection.”
Dela Rosa highlighted Duterte’s ongoing commitment to the nation. “Baka pakiramdam niya meron pang naiwan sa kanya na pwede pang i-share sa ating mga kababayan,” he said, suggesting that Duterte might feel he still has contributions to make towards nation-building.
The revival of the ICC probe discussion was sparked by Duterte’s own statements on his program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa.” He had mentioned using intelligence funds for extrajudicial killings while mayor of Davao.