APRIL 21, 2026 — Senator JV Ejercito has publicly urged Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to voluntarily stop receiving his salary and allowances, citing his prolonged absence from the Senate since November 2025. This call comes amid reports of an ICC warrant tied to his role in the drug war, sparking debate on accountability and fairness in public service.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has not attended a single Senate session since late 2025, making him the top absentee with 31 absences out of 58 session days in the 20th Congress. His absence coincides with reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him for alleged involvement in the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Despite this, dela Rosa continues to receive his salary and allowances, as the Senate currently has no “no work, no pay” policy for its members. 

Ejercito, chair of the Senate ethics committee, is pushing for reforms, saying, “Umaapela tayo kay Sen. Bato Dela Rosa na kusang-loob na hindi muna tumanggap ng sweldo at allowances niya sa Senado.”

(We appeal to Sen. Bato Dela Rosa to voluntarily forgo his Senate salary and allowances for the time being.)

Ejercito added, “Gaya ng mga ordinaryong Pilipinong ‘no work no pay,’ lalo’t higit ganoon din dapat ang mga lingkod-bayan. Public service is a public trust, we are all accountable to the people we serve.”

The principle is simple: no work, no pay. If jeepney drivers, factory workers, and teachers don’t show up, they don’t get compensated. Why should senators be exempt? This issue cuts deep into the public’s sense of fairness, especially at a time when inflation and rising costs are squeezing households.

Ejercito himself admitted that the Senate lacks rules to compel attendance, meaning any formal sanction against dela Rosa would require amendments and deliberation. The ethics committee is set to meet on April 28 to review pending complaints, including those against dela Rosa.

This controversy isn’t just about one senator’s paycheck — it’s about trust in institutions. If lawmakers can skip work for months and still get paid, what message does that send to the public? For a country where millions live paycheck to paycheck, the optics are damning.

The Senate now faces a test: Will it tighten its rules to ensure accountability, or will it allow loopholes that erode public trust?

Should senators who fail to show up for work still be entitled to salaries funded by taxpayers who struggle daily to earn theirs?

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