Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senator Roland ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa presides a hearing called by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on September 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Bato

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176567174696220230905-ph-senate-road-rage-dela-rosa-JC1165.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Roland ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa presides a hearing called by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on September 5, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senator Bato Dela Rosa skipped the first day of the 2026 bicameral conference committee meeting on the national budget on Saturday, December 13.</p><p>Senate Finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Dela Rosa &quot;could not be reached&quot; despite several attempts to call the him.</p><p>“Tinawagan ko siya kanina, yung phone niya cannot be reached. I called him several times… Alam naman ng staff niya na ongoing ang bicam (budget meeting).”</p><p>Gatchalian added that Dela Rosa should formally explain his continued absence to the Senate.</p><p>“Ang maganda kasi dapat magpadala siya ng letter sa Senate, kay Senate President, sabihin yung dahilan kung bakit hindi siya nakapunta. That’s the proper way para nakaabiso ang Senate, especially may mga committee siya at subcommittee siya,” he said.</p><p>Dela Rosa, in charge of the budget for the Department of National Defense, is also the vice chair of Finance committee.</p><p>He has been absent in the Senate plenary sessions since November 11. </p><p>On the same day, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed an alleged arrest warrant against Dela Rosa has been issued by the International Criminal Court over his role as PNP chief in the drug war of the Duterte administration.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/6/remulla-says-bato-in-pampanga-1818">Remulla says Bato in Pampanga</a></div><p>Senators Camille Villar and JV Ejercito were also absent during the first day of the bicam budget meeting.</p><p>Villar recently gave birth in October, while Ejercito has been admitted in a hospital since last week for undisclosed health reasons.</p>

<p>Senate Finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian added that Dela Rosa should formally explain his continued absence to the Senate.</p>

Senate Finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian added that Dela Rosa should formally explain his continued absence to the Senate.

'Cannot be reached': Bato dela Rosa no show at budget bicam meeting

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'Cannot be reached': Bato dela Rosa no show at budget bicam meeting

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 14, 2025 08:25 AM PHT

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Bato dela Rosa

Senate

Congress

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2026 Budget

Sen. Win Gatchalian

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