Senator JV Ejercito confirmed that an ethics complaint filed against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over his prolonged absence from Senate sessions has been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The complaint, filed on February 25, 2026 by civil society group Wag Kang KuCorrupt, is one of several cases pending before the committee. The panel is set to process complaints on a “first in, first out” basis, with the case involving Dela Rosa included in the queue.
Ejercito said that under existing Senate and ethics committee rules, there is no explicit “no work, no pay” provision covering absenteeism. He noted that without such a rule, the complaint may not prosper, as the grounds cited are “not in our rules.”
Under committee procedures, complaints undergo an initial screening to determine whether they are properly filed, fall within jurisdiction, and have sufficient basis before any formal investigation or hearings are conducted. The complaint involving Dela Rosa will go through this process along with other pending cases.
Reports have linked Dela Rosa’s absence from Senate sessions to developments related to a reported International Criminal Court matter. His camp has previously said such reports have not been independently verified. Recent reports have not highlighted any detailed response specifically addressing the ethics complaint on absenteeism.
The outcome will depend on whether the complaint meets the requirements under current rules or if changes to those rules are considered.
