Senate Absences Spark Debate on Accountability and "No Work, No Pay" Policy

A contentious issue has emerged within the Senate concerning the extended absences of some lawmakers, notably Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. The debate centers on whether a "no work, no pay" policy should be enforced to compel attendance and accountability.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that no such rule currently exists in the Senate, allowing members to continue receiving salaries regardless of session attendance. However, he emphasized that senators must submit formal excuse letters for any absences, which are then reviewed by Senate leadership.

Gatchalian highlighted that his finance committee has not received any official correspondence from dela Rosa following his absence since November 10, which coincided with reports about a purported International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to drug war cases.

While dela Rosa's staff informed Gatchalian of the senator's inability to attend the budget deliberations, the proper procedural protocol was not followed. The former police chief was expected to present the Department of National Defense's budget, a responsibility that Gatchalian ultimately assumed.

Despite ongoing scrutiny, dela Rosa remains out of the public eye. His legal counsel acknowledged awareness of the ICC warrant reports but stated they could not independently verify the information.

This situation has left the Senate grappling with pressing questions regarding dela Rosa's whereabouts and whether lawmakers should be held accountable for extended absences during critical legislative sessions.