Mayors condemn Bato dela Rosa's 'absenteeism': 'Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong klase ng pagpapabaya'
Nearly 60 mayors from across the Philippines urged the Senate not to condone or excuse Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s absenteeism.
In its statement on May 25, Mayors for Good Governance called out dela Rosa for his months-long absence, noting how he's receiving around P2 million in salary despite not attending any session since November 2025 before he resurfaced on May 11 to participate in a Senate coup.
"Kalahating taong absent si Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa bago nagpakita noong Mayo 11, 2026 upang bumoto sa pagpapalit ng liderato ng Senado. Kada buwan, higit-kumulang PHP300,000 ang tinatanggap niyang sahod. Tinatayang aabot sa P2.1 milyon na ang natanggap niya sa loob ng 7 buwan na pag-absent," it wrote.
The group then compared his absence to the "no work, no pay" rule for ordinary workers.
"Sa manggagawang Pilipino, umiiral ang 'no work, no pay.' Kung ginawa ito ng ordinaryong empleyado, sa gobyerno man o pribadong sektor, siguradong papatawan siya ng suspension o pagkatanggal sa trabaho. Bakit tila iba ang batas kapag makapangyarihang opisyal ang sangkot?" they stressed.
They further criticized dela Rosa for neglecting his duties despite being paid by taxpayers and called his prolonged absence unacceptable.
"Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong klase ng pagtalikod at pagpapabaya para sa atin na pinapasahod ng taumbayan, habang araw-araw na humaharap ang ating mga mamamayan sa kahirapan, mataas na presyo ng bilihin, at krisis sa kabuhayan," the group said.
"Malaking insulto ito para sa milyon-milyong Pilipino na nagsisikap at nagtitiis para maitawid ang mga sarili at kanilang mga pamilya," they added.
The mayors also urged senators not to protect dela Rosa, who went missing again after the Senate gunfire incident on May 13, as he continues to neglect his duties as a lawmaker.
"Nananawagan kami sa ating mga senador: ang Senado ay hindi dapat maging kanlungan ng absenteeism at pagtatakipan. Hindi dapat pinoprotektahan ang isang halal na opisyal na umiiwas sa kanyang mga responsibilidad habang patuloy na tumatanggap ng sahod mula sa taumbayan," they said.
"Ang mga mambabatas mismo ang dapat manguna sa pagsunod sa batas. Lalo na ayon sa diwa kung bakit nilikha ang mga batas: para sa pananagutan, integridad, at kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino," they concluded.
Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and allegedly helped carry out the government’s bloody anti-drug campaign. He has been identified as one of Duterte’s alleged co-perpetrators and is included on the ICC wanted list.
Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, awaiting trial before the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa is currently being actively pursued by local authorities under an ICC warrant.
