Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has reportedly lost nearly all of his committee positions in the Senate due to prolonged absences.
“Yes, almost all,” confirmed Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III when asked Wednesday, February 25, if dela Rosa still held any committee roles.
When pressed on whether the decision stemmed from his non-attendance, Sotto explained, “Senate rules on number of non-attendance of a member in a committee.”
Most recently, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri announced that Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva would replace dela Rosa on the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Just last week, Senator Robin Padilla took over his position in the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, commonly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.
In addition, dela Rosa was replaced on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, with Senators Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta stepping in.
Sotto noted that replacements for his other committee posts would be chosen, adding that only committees that had not convened recently would keep his membership temporarily.
According to Senate rules, “unexplained absences in five (5) successive committee meetings may operate to relinquish regular membership therein.”
Since Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla revealed in November that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for dela Rosa’s arrest, the senator has not appeared in the chamber.
ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls has named dela Rosa as one of the co-perpetrators in the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte.