00:00File this under AWOL. Government employees are highly paid ghost workers in Congress still receiving full wage and benefits, despite months of not showing up for work and sense a word or whisper over their extended absence.
00:14As a result, the Senate, by way of its Ethics Committee, is bound to take action on this serious matter that dwells on simple fairness and social justice, as our Luisa Arispe reports.
00:26It is already 2026, but the plenary seat of Senator Ronald Bato De La Rosa remains empty and unoccupied.
00:36As the Senate resumed session yesterday, De La Rosa was the only member who failed to appear or attend.
00:43According to Senate President Vicente Soto III, there has been no word from the Senator regarding his return.
00:49Wala akong, I have not heard any information from Senator Ronald Bato. I was wondering nga, parang siya nakapirma do sa minority opinion.
01:02Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Temporay Panfilo Lacson says they are studying whether to suspend the absent Senator or withhold his salary.
01:12Yun ang isang suggestion na baka i-suspend or itigil yung suwerdo kasi parang sabi ko kay SP kanina, paaraw natin mabuti kasi covered kami ng civil service law.
01:26Baka hindi uubra yung hini mo pa suwerdo yun yung senador kung walang basis.
01:32Any final action or recommendation regarding Senator De La Rosa will be channeled through the Ethics Committee.
01:38This follows an ethics complaint set to be filed by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in May, marking the Senator's sixth month of continued absence from work.
01:50Tama rin sa SP, we have our own rules.
01:53Bantay ng Ethics Committee recommendation, once ma-adapt the plenary, pwedeng isasara mga recommendations at pwedeng implement ng plenary na itigilusura.
02:04At present, neither the Ethics Committee rules nor the Senate bylaws include a no-work-no-pay policy for non-attending senators.
02:13However, now that the Ethics Committee has been fully constituted, amending the committee rules is on the table.
02:20Senator De La Rosa was last seen at the Senate in November 2025.
02:24He posted on social media during his birthday last January 21, 2026, but he did not disclose his current location.
02:32It is widely speculated that the senator is in hiding following rumors the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged crimes against humanity, though these reports remained unconfirmed.
02:47Luisa Erispe from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
Comments