In an unexpected turn of events, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the presidency on Friday.

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief who led Duterte's controversial war on drugs campaign, will be running under the Cusi-led PDP-Laban party.

In a photo sent by Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the faction, the senator can be seen holding his COC.

BREAKING: Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, naghain ng kandidatura sa pagka-presidente sa 2022 elections sa ilalim ng PDP Laban | @dzrhnews #Desisyon2022 pic.twitter.com/9rDdBWZFCK

— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) October 8, 2021

Dela Rosa will run alongside fellow senator Christopher "Bong" Go, who filed his COC for the vice presidency on Saturday.