PNP Chief Bato to Succeed Pres. Duterte in 2022?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s term as president will end on June 30, 2022 – and netizens are already thinking of electing the current chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as his successor! Even some lawmakers believe PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has the makings of the person who could successfully succeed Pres. Duterte in office.

After all, it seems that Pres. Duterte and Chief dela Rosa think and act alike; thus, it would be highly likely that the police chief will continue Pres. Duterte’s programs, especially the campaign against illegal drugs, when he takes on the reigns as president!

By Presidential Communications Operations Office [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

One of these lawmakers is Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal who praised the police chief’s performance during the House Appropriations Committee hearing on the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) budget proposal for 2017.

Cong. Oaminal joked that it is highly like that dela Rosa could succeed Pres. Duterte when the latter steps down in 2022. Of course, while that was a joke, it is believed that Oaminal was also quite serious about the statement.

But will Pres. Duterte endorse Chief dela Rosa as his successor? Well, we don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t do that – unless, of course, he was serious when he told mayors in Marcos stronghold Ilocos during the campaign period that he would want to see Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. as president when he steps down.

By NIB-MALACANANG (Malacañang Photo Bureau) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The remark had been downplayed by Duterte’s running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the then-presidential candidate just “being playful”, especially because he was speaking in front of a known pro-Marcos crowd.

Still, it would be interesting to see who among the three Pres. Duterte would endorse as his successor come next presidential elections… Who’s your bet?