Senate President Tito Sotto suggested that critics of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa's prolonged absence from the Senate can file an ethics complaint. This comes amid rumors of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Dela Rosa continues to receive his salary, as senators are not subject to a 'no work, no pay' rule.
On December 2, 2025, Senate President Tito Sotto told reporters in an interview that the best way to address Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa's absence is through an ethics complaint. 'Yun ang pinakamagandang remedyo para matalakay natin ito (The ethics complaint is the best remedy so we can discuss this),' Sotto said. He declined to amend Senate rules for absentee senators, noting that Dela Rosa continues to receive his salary since it has already been allotted. 'Allotted na 'yun eh (It’s already been allotted),' he added.
Dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions since mid-November, about three weeks by early December, following reports of a possible International Criminal Court arrest warrant linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. Sotto said he last spoke to Dela Rosa before the Senate adjourned in October. Although the ICC has not confirmed the warrant, Dela Rosa's legal counsel Israelito Torreon stated that the senator is not hiding and is merely verifying the reports.
Dela Rosa failed to defend the proposed 2026 budgets for the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program, and other agencies he sponsored. Instead, Senate Finance Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian took over. 'I was just informed by the staff na hindi nga siya makaka-attend. So, nakiusap siya kung pwede ako nalang mag-defend ng budget (I was just informed by his staff that he couldn’t make it, so he asked if I could defend their budgets instead),' Gatchalian said on December 1. No official excuse letter was submitted by Dela Rosa, straying from protocol, according to reports. Sotto expressed disappointment, saying it is 'not okay' for Dela Rosa to accept an assignment he could not fulfill.
Senators earn a monthly salary of P293,191 under Salary Grade 31, or about P3.52 million annually, plus allowances for committee duties, per the Department of Budget and Management. There is no 'no work, no pay' policy for them, suggesting Dela Rosa likely received full pay despite missing half the month.