Four members of the Senate are not receiving their regular salaries, Senate President Win Gatchalian confirmed on Wednesday.
The Senate accounting and payroll departments were ordered to withhold the compensation of Senator Loren Legarda following her decision to go on medical leave. Legarda initially filed for leave from August 3 to 5, but she has continuously extended her absence through September 2.
Intelligence from the National Bureau of Investigation indicates that she left the country for France via Hong Kong on August 2 alongside her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.
Their departure coincided with an announcement from the Office of the Ombudsman that both lawmakers are under preliminary investigation for alleged plunder and graft involving ₱10 billion in “ghost” solar energy projects. Legarda has strongly denied the claims, describing them as “utterly false and baseless.”
Meanwhile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta have voluntarily waived their paychecks while in detention.
Estrada is currently held at the Quezon City Jail over non-bailable plunder and graft charges tied to alleged kickbacks from flood control developments. Marcoleta remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail on non-bailable plunder charges for failing to disclose ₱75 million in campaign funds during the 2025 senatorial elections.
Finally, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is also not drawing a salary as he remains in hiding to evade an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court regarding his role in the anti-drug campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte.