Politics

Where Is Bato? Senate to Finally Address Dela Rosa’s MIA Status in Monday Caucus

Tabloid PH Newsdesk

Feb 22, 2026 — 1 min read

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa has been a no-show at the Senate for months now, and his colleagues are finally going to talk about it. Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson confirmed that the senator’s prolonged absence will be on the agenda during Monday’s all-senators’ caucus.

Lacson revealed that the Senate currently has rules for absences in committee meetings — miss too many and you lose your membership — but there’s nothing specific for plenary sessions. ‘I think we should revisit the rules of the Senate to incorporate situations like that of Sen. Bato,’ Lacson said after attending the PMA Alumni Association homecoming.

Dela Rosa stopped attending sessions after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him in connection with the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs. Sen. Bong Go has also been tagged by the ICC as a co-perpetrator.

So far, senators have discussed possible actions but haven’t reached a consensus. Lacson stressed the need to take the matter seriously: ‘On Monday, pag may all-senators’ caucus, it could come up and we could have a consensus.’

With the ICC confirmation hearings for former President Duterte starting the same day, Monday is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged days in recent Senate history. The question everyone’s asking: will Bato ever come back?

Source: Manila Bulletin

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Hontiveros Flies to Pag-asa Island, Calls for ‘Continuous Pushback’ Against China in the West Philippine Sea

NFA Sells 32.5 Million Kilos of Aged Rice in One Day, Rakes In Nearly ₱1 Billion — and Opens Warehouse Space for Farmers

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Forget Rallies — This New Anti-Corruption Movement Sends Citizens to Inspect Government Projects Themselves