Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s request for the Senate leadership to allow his family to stay at the Senate Mansion in Baguio City was denied as the facility is under repair.
Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza confirmed this in a text message to reporters on Friday, March 13, after members of the media obtained a copy of Dela Rosa’s request letter.
Dela Rosa, who has been absent from the Senate since November amid talks of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), had requested permission for his family to stay at the Senate Mansion from March 26 to 29 for the CSAFP (Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines) Cup.
The Senate Mansion is a government-owned residence used primarily by senators when they are in Baguio for official functions.
“The Senate mansion is undergoing repairs now and the policy is the family must be accompanied by the Senator,” Mendoza said, adding that he will formally send a reply to Dela Rosa regarding the matter.
Asked if this meant Dela Rosa’s request would be denied because of the repairs, Mendoza said: “Yes.”
Asked about the request addressed to him, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he had referred the matter to the Senate secretariat.
Dela Rosa is facing an ethics complaint over his months-long absence from the Senate. The ICC has named him a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case for murder against former President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s war on drugs.
