A Senate ethics complaint against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, seeking a “no work, no pay” sanction for his prolonged absences amid an ICC arrest warrant, is set for dismissal, as the penalty is not in Senate rules, ethics committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito said.
MANILA, Philippines—Senate ethics committee chairman Sen. JV Ejercito announced that an ethics complaint against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, demanding a “no work, no pay” penalty and suspension of his office operations due to absences, faces outright dismissal.
“You cannot find it anywhere in our rules on ethics or Senate,” Ejercito said. “If we want it to prosper, we have to amend the rules first.”
The complaint follows earlier proposals, including one from Senate leadership, to suspend Dela Rosa's salary while he remains absent, reportedly evading an International Criminal Court arrest warrant linked to the Philippines' drug war.
The ethics panel follows a “first-in, first-out” policy, with Dela Rosa’s case queued behind several others among nine total complaints before the newly convened committee. Even if dismissed, the petitioner can refile immediately.
Ejercito rejected accusations of delays to protect lawmakers, noting efforts to amend rules quickly.
