MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa will gun for a Senate seat in 2019.

Dela Rosa confirmed this in a chance interview after the flag-raising ceremony at the New Bilibid Prison on Monday, September 3, after he was asked for updates on his plans for the upcoming polls.

“Inanunsyo na ng Presidente. Sinabi sa ‘kin ng Presidente, tumakbo ako. Eh di tatakbo ako (The President has announced it. The President told me to run, so I will run [for senator]),” Dela Rosa said.

Why this matters: His announcement comes over 5 weeks after he transferred his voter’s registration to Davao del Sur, a move he made even before Duterte instructed him to seek a Senate seat. (READ: Dela Rosa vows to serve Duterte until his last breath)

Before the announcement, Dela Rosa earlier said it was already decided that he would run, but it would be up to the President whether he should run for governor or senator.

The former top cop has close ties with Duterte, and still considers himself the President’s most loyal cop. He gained both popularity and notoriety for implementing the Philippines’ bloody anti-drug campaign.

How will his bid play out? Dela Rosa did not disclose under which party he would run, but he has been endorsed for the Senate by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party of the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio.

If current survey numbers were the basis, Dela Rosa would have a good chance of winning in the 2019 elections.

In a June 2018 Pulse Asia survey, he was part of the so-called “Magic 12,” besting potential reelectionists like senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Joseph Victor Ejercito.

He was also included in the top 12 in a Laylo survey in November 2017, and in the the top 20 in a Social Weather Stations poll that same month, based on documents obtained by Rappler. – Rappler.com