AWOL Senator: Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Bato Dela Rosa for Skipping Senate Duties for Over 3 Months

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is officially in hot water — not from the ICC this time, but from his own colleagues. A civil society group led by former Finance Undersecretary Prof. Cielo Magno has filed an ethics complaint against the senator before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges for being absent from his duties for more than three months.

The group, hilariously named "Wag Kang KuCorrupt," accused Dela Rosa of neglecting his responsibilities as a lawmaker and committing what they described as a "grave abuse of public trust." Their complaint argues that his prolonged absence from plenary sessions and committee hearings undermines the mandate given to him by Filipino voters.

Magno made a sharp comparison: ordinary employees who are repeatedly absent get placed on leave without pay, face salary deductions, suspension, or even termination. So why should a senator — whose salary comes from taxpayer money — be held to a lower standard? "Continued absence from Senate sessions is not only neglect of duty but also a betrayal of the trust bestowed upon him by the people," the complaint stated.

Dela Rosa, a close ally of former President Duterte and the former PNP chief who led the bloody drug war, has been notably absent from the Senate since late 2025. While he hasn't been formally charged by the ICC himself, his proximity to Duterte's legal troubles and the ongoing political realignment may have contributed to his low profile.

The ethics committee now has to decide whether to act on the complaint. Whether or not they do, the optics are terrible for Dela Rosa — a senator drawing a government salary while not showing up to work. In any other job, that's grounds for firing. Pero sa Senado, iba ang rules, apparently.

Source: The Manila Times