Where Is Bato? Senate Eyes Sanctions After Senator Dela Rosa Goes MIA for Three Months Straight
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has been a ghost in the Senate — literally nowhere to be found since November 2025, and his colleagues are starting to lose patience. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson confirmed on Saturday that senators are now "talking about what action to take" regarding dela Rosa's prolonged absence, though no consensus has been reached yet.
Dela Rosa vanished from public view after rumors started swirling that the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest. He was named as one of eight co-perpetrators — alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go — in the ICC's crimes against humanity case linked to the bloody drug war. As the former PNP chief who implemented Oplan Tokhang, Bato is considered the operational architect of the campaign that killed thousands.
The problem? The Senate doesn't actually have rules for this situation. Lacson admitted there are provisions for removing members from committees due to absences, but nothing in the plenary rules covers a senator who simply stops showing up altogether. "I think we should revisit the rules of the Senate para mag-amend, to incorporate situations like that of Senator Bato," Lacson said at the PMA alumni homecoming in Baguio — where Bato, a fellow PMA Class of 1986 member, also failed to appear.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is reportedly planning to file an ethics complaint against dela Rosa. Meanwhile, Lacson raised the legal question of whether an ICC warrant can even be enforced against a sitting Philippine senator, noting that lawmakers enjoy immunity from arrest during session for offenses punishable by up to six years. He believes only the Supreme Court can settle whether a foreign court's warrant applies.
For now, Bato's empty Senate seat remains a daily reminder of just how deeply the ICC proceedings are shaking Philippine politics. His salary keeps running, his staff keeps working, and his constituents keep waiting — for a senator who may never come back.
Source: The Manila Times
