Despite his ongoing absence from the legislative chamber, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has formally introduced two new legislative measures as the Senate reconvened following a month-long break.
Senate records indicate that Dela Rosa signed the documents on Monday, May 4, between 2:56 p.m. and 2:57 p.m., with both bills being officially read during the plenary session on Wednesday, May 6.
The first measure, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2080, also known as the Counter Foreign Interference Act, seeks to criminalize foreign meddling in domestic affairs. The bill proposes the creation of a specialized council tasked with developing strategic programs to protect key sectors—including the economy, military, education, and technology—from external influence.
The second measure, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2079 or the National Police Clearance System (NPCS) Act, aims to formalize and strengthen the government’s centralized crime database. This bill focuses on maintaining a robust national record of warrants, criminal incidents, and identification details of wanted or arrested individuals to streamline law enforcement operations.
Dela Rosa’s legislative activity comes while he remains out of the public eye. He has not attended a Senate session since November 2025, following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest regarding his role in the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The senator is currently the subject of an ethics complaint due to his extended non-attendance. The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, has recently requested Dela Rosa’s input on a proposal to implement a “no work, no pay” policy for members of the Senate.