Metro Manila, Philippines – An anti-corruption group has formally asked the Senate committee on ethics and privileges to look into the prolonged absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, seeking sanctions, including “no work, no pay” for the embattled lawmaker.
The ‘Wag Kang KuCorrupt group filed an ethics complaint against Dela Rosa on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
It said Dela Rosa’s absence — now spanning more than three months — raises a number of ethical concerns, including:
+ Possible violation of the duty to faithfully discharge official functions
+ Misuse or abuse of public funds if compensation continues during his absence
+ Erosion of public trust in public office
+ Institutional delays and disruption of committee functions under his leadership
“Hindi dapat tino-tolerate ‘yung mga ganitong mga kilos na hindi pumapasok sa trabaho at hindi ginagawa ang tungkulin bilang isang senador,” former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno told reporters on behalf of the group.
[Translation: Such actions — not reporting for work and not fulfilling one’s duties as a senator — should not be tolerated.]
“‘Yung mga ordinaryong manggagawa kapag hindi ka nagpakita sa trabaho tanggal ka sa trabaho ‘di ba,” she added.
[Translation: Ordinary workers lose their jobs if they fail to show up for work, don’t they?]
The group also wants Dela Rosa’s salary withheld, calling it a waste of public funds.
In a separate chance interview, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed that Dela Rosa continues to receive his salary, despite Sotto’s earlier suggestion, relayed through Dela Rosa’s daughter, that he would forgo his pay amid criticisms about his absence.
Dela Rosa has not been seen at the Senate since November, amid reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. He has been named co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sotto said he will personally review the ethics complaint against Dela Rosa and call on the ethics committee to conduct hearings on all pending complaints.
Senator JV Ejercito, the committee chairperson, said the complaint against Dela Rosa is the sixth filed with the panel, noting that the first five complaints must be heard first.
“Hindi naman natin pwedeng unahin ‘yun, pang-anim ‘yun [We cannot prioritize that; it is the sixth complaint],” he said, without giving a timeline.
Ejercito himself is facing an ethics complaint over alleged delays in acting on the case against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos defended Dela Rosa, saying his absence should not be held against him amid uncertainty over whether the Senate would protect him from a potentially unjust arrest.
“Ginusto ba niya yun? E si Sen Bato kilala ko yun e, atat na atat magtrabaho yun e [Did he want this situation? I know Senator Bato — he’s eager to work],” Marcos said.
“Ang problema hindi siya nakakasigurado na bibigyan talaga siya ng proteksyon dahil may iba’t ibang sinasabi dito,” she added.
[Translation: The problem is he cannot be sure he will truly be given protection because there are conflicting statements.]
The Senate minority is pushing for a resolution seeking to unify the chamber in asserting that Filipinos must first be allowed to exhaust legal remedies in local courts before any possible surrender to international authorities.
