Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, who chairs the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, on Wednesday said the ethics complaint filed against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over his prolonged absence from the Senate could be dismissed if existing rules remain unchanged.
At a press briefing, Ejercito clarified that neither the Senate rules nor the committee’s guidelines currently include a “no work, no pay” provision.
“Outright, kung itutuloy namin ‘yan, the case will be dismissed. Wala kasi sa rules namin eh ‘di ba? So it will be dismissed kasi ‘you cannot find it anywhere in our rules sa ethics or sa rules of the Senate,” Ejercito told reporters.
He noted that the complaint could proceed only if the rules are amended.
“We just have to amend the rules first and then probably they can refile, just in case,” he said.
The complaint, filed on February 25 by civil society group Wag Kang KuCorrupt, cited dela Rosa’s repeated failure to report for work, calling it “not only a clear dereliction of duty but also a grave abuse of the privilege entrusted to him by the Filipino people.”
Ejercito emphasized that a fellow senator must propose a rule amendment to include a “no work, no pay” provision before the complaint can be acted upon.
“Kung gusto mag-prosper, kailangan i-amend ang rules to include ‘yung sa no work, no pay,” he said.
He also mentioned that dela Rosa’s complaint is sixth in line, with nine cases currently pending before the ethics panel, which processes complaints on a “first in, first out” basis.
Dela Rosa has not attended any Senate session or public engagement since November 2025, after reports emerged that the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest against him in connection with the war on drugs.
The ICC Office of the Prosecutor later identified him as an alleged co-perpetrator with former President Rodrigo Duterte in a case on crimes against humanity.