Manila, Philippines – No Senate attendance, but still receiving his monthly salary.
This is the current situation of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa after living Senate sessions since November 2025. This follows reports of an arrest warrant allegedly issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously said that they have not yet received a copy of arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.
In a Facebook post, Senator Robin Padilla defended his fellow senator against criticisms regarding his absence from the Senate.
Padilla argued that being a senator is not just about sitting in an office, gossiping with the media, speaking eloquently in the plenary, or trying to be the “star” of hearings.
He emphasized that his friend is a war veteran and not just a “low-level cop.”
According to Padilla, Dela Rosa’s staff remains complete and operational, continuing to draft legislative measures and maintaining full communication through the use of technology.
He clarified that the senator is not on a vacation; rather, he is facing allegedly facing harassment from a foreign power and needs to protect his rights as a Filipino within his own country.
Senator Imee Marcos also previously defended the senator, stating that Bato is still working. She questioned whether law enforcement agencies actually hold a warrant of arrest or not.
She added that if a warrant exists, it should be released so his legal team can address it immediately.
As of now, Marcos says she has no news regarding the senator’s location and has not spoken to him since last week.