Protest Votes Drive Eleksyon 2025 Results
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed gratitude to supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte, linking his strong performance in the Eleksyon 2025 senatorial race to what he calls “protest votes”. These votes, he explained, came from people deeply upset about Duterte’s detention in The Hague.
“’Yung pag-angat natin dito sa results ay talagang it came with a very heavy price at ito ‘yung freedom ni Pangulong Duterte at ito, bigla tayong umangat nang husto sa survey after nila hinuli at ibiniyahe si Pangulong Duterte do’n sa The Hague,” he said.
Dela Rosa added, “Ito po’y in-attribute ko talaga ‘yung aming kapanalunan sa kinasapitan ni Pangulong Duterte… Ganito kataas ‘yung aming natanggap na boto, these are protest votes coming from the people who are very much aggrieved about what happened to former President Duterte.”
Challenges of Running an Opposition Campaign
Being part of the opposition in Eleksyon 2025 presented many obstacles for Dela Rosa. He shared how securing support from local government units (LGUs) was difficult because many feared negative repercussions. To overcome this, he adopted what he described as a “guerrilla style” campaign.
“Ang hirap kumuha ng suporta doon sa LGUs na medyo takot din ma-bad shot kaya guerilla operations talaga ang ginawa ko. Hirap tayong makahiram ng eroplano, hirap tayong makahiram ng mga helicopter kaya nagmo-motorsiklo na lang ako all over the Philippines kung saan ako pupunta. Gano’n na lang. At least nagbunga rin ‘yung guerilla operations natin,” he explained.
Current Standing and Political Background
According to the latest partial and unofficial tally from election authorities, Dela Rosa currently holds third place in the senatorial race with over 20 million votes. He is a long-time ally of former President Duterte and previously served as the chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s term.
Despite his support, Dela Rosa also acknowledged that he faces legal challenges, as he is named a “co-accused” alongside Duterte in crimes against humanity charges filed before the International Criminal Court.
Reflection on Protest Votes Impact
Dela Rosa believes the surge in his votes reflects a broader sentiment among Filipinos who feel strongly about Duterte’s situation. He emphasized that these protest votes are a clear message from citizens who are deeply aggrieved and want to express their dissatisfaction through the ballot.
His campaign strategy, though unconventional and challenging, proved effective in reaching voters across the country despite limited resources and logistical hurdles. This approach, combined with the powerful protest votes, helped elevate his position in the Eleksyon 2025 senatorial race.
For further updates and more coverage on Eleksyon 2025, visit Filipinokami.com.