FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Bureau of Corrections (BOC) head Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has confirmed he is running in the 2019 elections.

The feisty BuCor chief did not specify though which position he would seek, saying he will seek the guidance of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Until now, I am still awaiting the final instructions of the President. Definitely I’m running but as to what elective post, I still don’t know,” he said.

Dela Rosa said he may run for the Senate or for governor of Davao del Sur.

“I will wait for the President’s instructions,” said Dela Rosa, adding that Duterte wanted him to help their province but that the President also saw him entering the Magic 12 in senatorial surveys.

A survey during dela Rosa’s stint as PNP chief showed he was among the frontrunners for the 2019 senatorial elections.

“I was flattered at that time,” said Dela Rosa of the survey.

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, is calling on Congress to build additional infrastructure at the New Bilibid Prison to address the problem of overcrowding in the state penitentiary.

Dela Rosa cited as example the maximum security compound, saying that the capacity of the facility is only up to 5,000 individuals, but it is now housing at least 18,000 convicts.

“You can just imagine the congestion inside. It’s really hard,” said Dela Rosa.

He pressed Congress to provide NBP with at least one new dormitory outside of the present penal compound in Muntinlupa.