Media reports Senator Bato Dela Rosa’s record of attendance and the policy on absenteeism in the Senate

CHEERS TO media organizations which noted the extended absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa from the Senate, counting the 31 days that he did not attend the 58 scheduled sessions. Media pointed out that Dela Rosa’s absenteeism is currently the highest recorded among members of the 20^th Congress. 

Dela Rosa started missing sessions in November 2025 after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest. Dela Rosa was the chief of the Philippine National Police during the “war on drugs” waged by President Rodrigo

During the confirmation of charges at the ICC in February 2026, the prosecution team named Dela Rosa, along with Senator Bong Go, as co-perpetrators of the infamous government campaign that caused so many killings of suspects and innocent civilians. 

The developments above clearly explain Dela Rosa’s withdrawal from the public and his absence from duty. 

Absence and attendance of senators 

From April 8 to 10,  reports of the Inquirer.net, Philstar.com, Daily Tribune,  Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News Online, and GMA News Online tallied the number of days that each member of the Senate had attended Senate sessions. 

 “Wag Kang KuCorrupt,” a civil society group filed an ethics complaint against the Senator in February, after Dela Rosa’s extended absences from his duties. In March, 2026, the Senate explained that there is no policy or law that penalizes senators for their failure to attend sessions; that the  standard rule of ‘no work, no pay’ does not apply to their members.

With or without a rule, Dela Rosa’s extended absence from senate vents him from fulfilling his responsibility as an elected senator with specific responsibility for legislation. 

The situation should prod media to inquire further into the Senate’s customs and policy on absenteeism of their members, and in dealing with members who for some reason or another are unable to fulfill their duties. The accountability and quality of performance of elected officials, including those tasked with legislation, should be a matter of public interest and concern. 

The unwritten policy of elected senators exempting themselves from the principle of “no work, no pay” has been described openly. Clearly, it is open to public scrutiny and should be a subject of media inquiry. Journalists should report on the subject, recording what legislators have to say, and checking the response of public opinion. As these salaries come from citizen taxpayers, it is only right and just that people render judgment on the practice.