MARCH 19, 2026 — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s ethics complaint over his prolonged absence is on the verge of dismissal — not because he’s cleared, but because the Senate simply has no “no work, no pay” rule to enforce. This technicality exposes a glaring gap in accountability, raising uncomfortable questions about how lawmakers are held to the same standards as ordinary workers.

The ethics complaint filed by civil society group Wag Kang KuCorrupt seeks to penalize Dela Rosa for skipping Senate sessions since November 2025, right after reports surfaced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant of arrest against him. The group argued that his absence is a “grave abuse of the privilege entrusted to him by the Filipino people.”

But here’s the catch: the Senate has no provision for “no work, no pay.” 

Ethics committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito said, “Outright the case will be dismissed because you cannot find it anywhere in our rules on ethics or Senate.”

Ejercito added that unless senators themselves amend the rules, the complaint cannot prosper. Even then, the committee follows a “first-in, first-out” system, and Dela Rosa’s case is only sixth in line out of nine pending complaints. 

Simply put, this could drag on for months, if not years.

Accountability gap

The thing is, most Filipinos live under the harsh reality of “no work, no pay.” Miss a day at the factory, the call center, or the jeepney route, and your wallet feels it instantly. Yet senators — who earn taxpayer-funded salaries and allowances — can vanish from sessions for months, shielded by rules that don’t even contemplate absenteeism as a punishable offense.

This isn’t just about Bato. Ejercito admitted there are multiple complaints against other senators, some facing overlapping cases. But without clear rules, all these complaints risk being junked on technicalities.

Dela Rosa’s absence isn’t random. He was Duterte’s police chief during the bloody war on drugs, and now he’s among those tagged in the ICC’s crimes against humanity probe. Since November, he hasn’t shown up in the Senate, fueling speculation that he’s avoiding public scrutiny (and perhaps arrest - never mind that hiding makes him look quite cowardly) while the ICC case looms.

This issue cuts deep into the Filipino sense of fairness. If workers can’t escape “no work, no pay,” why should senators? The Senate’s refusal — or inability — to enforce accountability risks eroding public trust. It sends the message that rules apply differently depending on your rank. And in a country where politics already feels like a game of impunity, this loophole is salt on the wound.

The Senate can amend its rules, but will it? Or will this be another case of lawmakers protecting their own while we, the taxpayers, continue to live under stricter standards?

Why should we keep paying for so-called leaders who don’t even have the decency to show up to work? 

(Image: Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa | Facebook)