MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has lost nearly all of his committee memberships in the Senate, Senate leaders confirmed Wednesday, citing his continued absences from official duties.

“Yes, almost all,” Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III told reporters when asked if dela Rosa still held any committee posts.

Asked if the move was due to dela Rosa’s prolonged absence, Sotto said, “Senate rules on number of non-attendance of a member in a committee.”

Most recently, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri moved on Wednesday to replace dela Rosa with fellow minority Senator Joel Villanueva on the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

It was only last week that Senator Robinhood Padilla took over dela Rosa’s seat on the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Along with Villanueva, dela Rosa was also replaced on the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, with Senators Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta taking over his positions.

Sotto said replacements for the senator’s remaining committee posts would be elected, noting that only committees that have not met recently would temporarily retain his membership. According to Senate rules, “unexplained absences in five (5) successive committee meetings may operate to relinquish regular membership therein.”

Ethics Complaint Filed Over Absences

The senator’s absences have also prompted an ethics complaint. An anti-corruption group led by former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno filed a formal complaint with the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, calling dela Rosa’s prolonged absence a “grave abuse of the privilege entrusted to him by the Filipino people.”

“Many are subjected to disciplinary action, salary deductions, suspension or even outright termination for repeated absences without approved leave,” the group, Wag Kang KuCorrupt, said. “Breadwinners across the country work tirelessly, often under difficult conditions, precisely because their families’ welfare depends on daily accountability.”

Magno, speaking in an ambush interview on Wednesday, called for the suspension of dela Rosa’s salary and the operations of his office. “As you know, this involves spending public funds without any meaningful outcome. We can say that his office is technically operating, but the work is not being accomplished,” she said.

“For example, Sen. Bato chairs several committees that have been unable to convene because he is absent. As a result, important matters are not being heard or addressed. Therefore, we believe that, at the minimum, Sen. Bato’s salary should be suspended,” Magno concluded.

Public Calls for Accountability

Dela Rosa’s absence comes amid renewed scrutiny over his tenure as chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s war on drugs.

A Social Weather Stations survey conducted in November 2025 found that 53 percent of Filipinos agreed that Dela Rosa should be held accountable for killings during the drug war, while 21 percent disagreed and 20 percent were undecided. Five percent said they did not know enough to give an opinion.

Regarding possible detention, 44 percent said Dela Rosa should be detained if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant. Thirty-four percent disagreed, while 19 percent were undecided. 

Meanwhile, 47 percent of respondents believed the ICC would conduct a fair trial against Duterte, while 24 percent expressed little confidence, and 29 percent were undecided.

Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since November 10, 2025, following announcements of an ICC arrest warrant reportedly issued against him.

He has remained absent from the Senate, drawing criticism from both ethics watchdogs and fellow lawmakers.

📷 Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa FB