Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa disclosed that at least seven senators allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte support the re-election bid of Senate President Francis Escudero.

“Nakapag-commit na kami. I don’t know if everybody signed it. Ako, nakapirma na ako (We already made our commitment. I already signed it.). We call ourselves Duter7,” Dela Rosa said.

Aside from Dela Rosa, the Duterte 7 senators also include:

• Bong Go
• Robin Padilla
• Rodante Marcoleta
• Imee Marcos
• Mark Villar, and
• Camille Villar.

“Kaming Duterte bloc napag-usapan namin, we are inclined to support Senator Chiz Escudero. Wala namang kami nakita [na dahilan na] hindi dapat siya suportahan. We support him,” Dela Rosa said.

“Ang pinaka-big factor d’yan na nakikita ko lang talaga is ‘yung pagka-open niya. Nakikinig siya sa lahat ng sides. ‘Yun ang nagustuhan namin na liderato (The biggest factor that I see is his being open. He listens to all sides. That’s what we like in his leadership),” he added.

Dela Rosa also said that his support for Escudero did not come in exchange of prime Senate committee chairmanship or a vote against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Wala akong hiningi. Basta, nagustuhan ko lang yung pamamalakad niya sa amin (I did not ask for anything. I am just content with his leadership). He’s not close minded, and that’s what we need as a democratic institution,” he said.

Back in May 2024, Dela Rosa was seen weeping when then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri resigned as the Senate leader after losing the vote of confidence of his colleagues. It turned out, however, that Dela Rosa voted for Escudero to replace Zubiri.