Sotto defends Dela Rosa absence, points to House absenteeism

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has brushed off criticism over Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s continued absence, saying it was being blown out of proportion when other lawmakers have done far worse without the public outrage.

It’s been weeks since Dela Rosa last attended a Senate session, after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that an arrest warrant had been issued against the former police chief in connection with the bloody drug war during the administration of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sotto challenged critics to file a complaint before the Senate Committee on Ethics if they want accountability, noting that the upper chamber has no rule penalizing absenteeism.

“Difficult to amend the rules. If there are people who want accountability from a senator, they should file a complaint with the Committee on Ethics,” he said. “It is not necessary for us to amend our rules. I doubt we can pass a rule like that.”

He said that, unlike ordinary workers, senators are not covered by the “no work, no pay” policy. “There is no such rule for senators, even in the Constitution.”

Sotto also pointed out that absenteeism is worse in the House of Representatives.

“They’re not doing anything, and no one complains. This one has only been gone for two to three weeks. Of course, the salary keeps coming in,” he said, referring to Dela Rosa.

In 2013, then representatives Manny Pacquiao and Jules Ledesma were recorded as having the most absences, attending only 108 of 168 House sessions.

Sotto admitted that Dela Rosa has not formally notified the chamber of his absences but said that his Senate office continued to be open and working.

“Wala ring mangyayaring bawas sa kanyang pondo sa kanyang opisina (There will also be no deductions to the funds for his office),” Sotto said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers criticized the exemption of the Senate from general employment rules that penalize absences, saying that ordinary people like teachers face salary cuts and bureaucratic hurdles while senators evade the consequences.