Dela Rosa: I’d rather focus on work, not politics
MANILA - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Monday, January 8, that he is not taking seriously reports on his ranking in senatorial race surveys.
“Pasalamat tayo na kino-consider tayo (We are thankful that we are being considered) but I should not take it very seriously dahil baka mamaya I will be lured towards sabihin ko na papunta na ako doon,” he said.
“Wala pa ako dyan, trabaho lang muna. Focus ako sa aking trabaho sa remaining additional 3 months ng aking serbisyo,” he added.
Dela Rosa was among the top 20 contenders as senatorial candidates for 2019 elections based on the result of the Laylo and Social Weather Stations (SWS) polls.
He said he does not want to entertain such idea to avoid criticisms.
“Trabaho lang muna ako. Kailangan magfocus tayo sa trabaho dahil kapag sinabi mo na tatakbo ako, lahat ng decision-making ko dito ay may halong pamulitika na, sabihin nila politics na ‘yung sa utak ni Bato kaya trabaho nyan puro na papogi, puro gusto tumakbo nyan. Wala na, sira na ‘yung plano at diskarte mo,” said Dela Rosa.
“Ako trabaho lang muna in the best way that I can help the president
bring about the reforms that he needs to institute,” he added.
Earlier, Dela Rosa said he was not closing his doors to politics, if President Rodrigo Duterte will ask him to run for the senatorial race next year.
Dela Rosa is supposed to retire on January 21, when he reaches the mandatory age of 56, but his term has been extended for three more months as ordered by Duterte.
He is expected to head the Bureau of Corrections after retirement.