Metro Manila, Philippines – Embattled Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been removed from three committees over his prolonged absences amid reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During the plenary session on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced that Senator Joel Villanueva had been elected member of the committee on justice and human rights, replacing Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa had earlier been replaced as a member of the committee on ethics and privileges and the blue ribbon committee.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Dela Rosa has been removed from “almost all” of his committee memberships and will also be replaced in his remaining assignments.
“We are simply following Senate rules,” he said.
He added that dela Rosa now retains membership only in committees that have not met recently and therefore have not marked him absent.
According to the Senate website, Dela Rosa is still chairman of the committee on civil service, government reorganization and professional regulation.
Dela Rosa has not been seen in the Senate since November, when Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest — a claim that remains unconfirmed.
He has since been named a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case filed against detained former President Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police and was a key implementer of the administration’s controversial war on drugs.
On Wednesday, anti-corruption group ‘Wag Kang KuCorrupt filed an ethics complaint against dela Rosa over his prolonged absence.
The ethics and privileges committee will convene initially on Wednesday, March 4. Committee chairman JV Ejercito said the panel will first hold an executive session to adopt its rules before proceeding with the “initial vetting” of complaints.
The complaint against dela Rosa is the sixth to be filed against senators. Ejercito said the committee will address the first five complaints before taking up Dela Rosa’s case.
