APRIL 10, 2026 — Attendance records don’t lie. In the first regular session of the 20th Congress, eight senators — including Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Jinggoy Estrada, Robin Padilla, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, and Joel Villanueva — managed a perfect score: zero absences across 58 session days. That’s discipline, visibility, and a clear message to the public that they’re showing up for work.

But the headline-grabber? Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa logged only 27 days present, missing 31 sessions. His last appearance was November 11, 2025, right when talk of an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his role in Duterte’s bloody drug war surfaced. 

Since then, silence. No plenary presence. No explanations that resonate with the public. For a man who once branded himself as tough and unyielding, this absence record is a glaring contradiction.

Other senators had mixed records. Camille Villar, on maternity leave, was present for 42 days. Alan Peter Cayetano showed up 44 times. Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Mark Villar, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Chiz Escudero, Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, and Ping Lacson all hovered in the 50s, with Marcoleta, Kiko Pangilinan, and Erwin Tulfo nearly perfect at 57.

The numbers matter because attendance isn’t just about sitting in a chair — it’s about accountability. We expect senators to debate, legislate, and represent. When one senator vanishes for more than half the session, then who’s doing the job they were elected for … and who’s dodging it?

Yes, life happens — maternity leaves, illnesses, emergencies. But when absences are tied to international legal troubles, the optics shift. It’s no longer about personal circumstance; it’s about credibility, responsibility, and the integrity of the institution. And in our country where ordinary workers get docked pay for missing shifts, shouldn’t lawmakers be held to the same standard?

Perfect attendance may not guarantee perfect performance, but it signals respect for the role. Meanwhile, chronic absence erodes trust. The Senate is not a classroom where you can cut class and still pass — it’s the people’s chamber, and every empty seat is a broken promise.

When regular workers lose pay for missing a day on the job, shouldn’t senators be dealt with the same way (perhaps even more sternly) with skipping dozens of sessions?

(Image: Ronald Bato Dela Rosa | Facebook)