A coalition of local chief executives on Monday slammed Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over his prolonged absence from the Senate, arguing that lawmakers must not be shielded from accountability while drawing salaries from public funds.
The Mayors for Good Governance pointed out that Dela Rosa had been missing from legislative duties for roughly half a year. He only resurfaced on May 11 to take part in the Senate leadership shuffle that installed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President and designated Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as Senate Minority Leader.
According to the group, the lawmaker accumulated an estimated ₱2.1 million in salaries over a span of more than seven months despite his continuous absence.
“Kung ginawa ito ng ordinaryong empleyado, sa gobyerno man o sa pribadong sektor, siguradong papatawan siya ng suspensyon o pagtanggal sa trabaho, (If an ordinary employee did this, whether in government or the private sector, they would surely face suspension or termination, )” the mayors said.
“Bakit tila iba ang batas kapag makapangyarihang opisyal ang sangkot? (Why does the law seem different when a powerful official is involved? )” they added, calling the situation unacceptable as ordinary Filipinos grapple with inflation and economic hardships.
The joint statement was signed by over 50 local chief executives nationwide, including high-profile leaders such as Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
The coalition described the situation as a “grave insult” to daily wage earners striving to support their families amidst the rising cost of living.
“Nananawagan kami sa ating mga senador: Ang Senado ay hindi dapat maging kanlungan ng absenteeism at pagtatakipan, (We call on our senators: The Senate should not be a sanctuary for absenteeism and cover-ups, )” the group stated.
“Hindi dapat pinoprotektahan ang isang halal na opisyal na umiiwas sa kanyang mga responsibilidad habang patuloy na tumatanggap ng sahod mula sa taumbayan, (An elected official who evades his responsibilities while continuing to receive a salary from the public should not be protected, )” the mayors added.
Dela Rosa has been actively evading an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning alleged crimes against humanity linked to the controversial anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration.