Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate should revisit its rules to include actions on what to do in situations such as the months-long absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson Sr. said.
Lacson made the suggestion on Saturday, Feb. 21, saying Senate’s rules only tackled penalties for continuous absence in committees but not in the plenary.
Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November last year after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla announced the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against him.
Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief who implemented the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs campaign.
He has been named as among the co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case, but the ICC has not confirmed the issuance of any warrant.
“I think we should revisit the rules of the Senate para ma-incorporate ang situation [to incorporate the situation] like that of Sen. Bato,” Lacson said in an interview after the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association’s homecoming in Baguio City.
“I think we should take it seriously. On Monday, pag may [if there’s an] all-senators’ caucus, it could come up and we could have a consensus,” he said.
Sen. Robin Padilla has been elected to replace Dela Rosa as a member of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee but no reason was explained in the plenary about the change.
In late January, Lacson said the Senate leadership is studying possible sanctions against Dela Rosa, including withholding his salary, for his straight absences.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier said he will file an ethics complaint against Dela Rosa in May if the senator continues to remain in hiding.
