Critics of Dela Rosa’s absence can file ethics grievance

Senator Bato dela Rosa has been a no-show on the higher chamber since rumors of an Worldwide Legal Court docket warrant for his arrest first surfaced

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Tito Sotto mentioned on Tuesday, December 2, that critics of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s continued absence on the higher chamber can file an ethics grievance towards him.

Sotto mentioned this in an interview with reporters who requested concerning the repercussions of Dela Rosa’s weeks-long absence and the demand of the senator’s critics that he mustn’t receives a commission for the times he was absent.

As an alternative of amending the Senate’s guidelines to incorporate punishments for absentee senators, Sotto advised critics of Dela Rosa’s absence to file an ethics grievance.

“‘Yun ang pinakamagandang remedyo para matalakay natin ito (The ethics grievance is the perfect treatment so we will talk about this),” he mentioned.

Sotto mentioned Dela Rosa continues to obtain a wage because it has already been allotted. He additionally clarified that senators aren’t topic to “no work, no pay” guidelines confronted by extraordinary staff — he was responding to Dela Rosa’s critics who mentioned the senator mustn’t receives a commission on the times he didn’t present up on the Senate.

“Allotted na ‘yun eh (It’s already been allotted),” he mentioned.

Sotto mentioned that Dela Rosa’s workplace continues to operate regardless of his absence.

Dela Rosa has been a no-show at Senate classes for round three weeks to this point, with Sotto saying in an earlier interview that he final spoke to Dela Rosa earlier than the Senate adjourned session in October.

The previous police chief-turned-senator did not defend the proposed 2026 budgets of the protection division, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program, and different key protection and safety businesses which he sponsored. Senate finance chairman Sherwin Gatchalian defended the businesses’ budgets earlier than the plenary in Dela Rosa’s place.

Gatchalian advised reporters on Monday, December 1, that Dela Rosa didn’t ship an excuse letter explaining his absence, which strays away from the standard protocol.

“I used to be simply knowledgeable by the workers na hindi nga siya makaka-attend. So, nakiusap siya kung pwede ako nalang mag-defend ng price range,” he mentioned.

(I used to be simply knowledgeable by his workers that he couldn’t make it, so he requested if I might defend their budgets as a substitute.)

Dela Rosa’s whereabouts have been unknown since rumors of an Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) warrant for his arrest started to floor. Nonetheless, his authorized counsel Israelito Torreon insists that the senator will not be hiding and is as a substitute verifying reviews of the supposed warrant.

– Rappler.com