Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The ethics complaint against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa over his unexplained and persistent absence from the Senate faces outright dismissal, saying there is nothing in its rules to compel attendance and penalize absences.Dela Rosa has been absent since the circulation last year of unconfirmed reports that the International Criminal Court has ordered his arrest in connection with the Duterte administration&#x27;s drug war.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/4/dela-rosa-ethics-complaint-won-t-jump-line-in-panel-ejercito-1623">Dela Rosa ethics complaint won’t jump line in panel — Ejercito </a></div>&quot;It will be dismissed. Kasi it&#x27;s not — you cannot find it anywhere in our rules. Sa ethics or sa Rules of the Senate,&quot; committee chair JV Ejercito told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.He said any senator can propose an amendment to the Senate rules and a new complaint can be filed against dela Rosa then.Wag Kang Corrupt, a civil society group that filed a complaint against dela Rosa in February, said his failure to report to work is &quot;a clear dereliction of duty (and) a grave abuse of the privilege entrusted to him by the Filipino people.&quot; They said that as an elected senator paid with public funds, Dela Rosa &quot;carries the constitutional and moral obligation to attend sessions, participate in legislative deliberations, and full oversight responsibilities.&quot;<div> </div><div>PANEL HAS SIX COMPLAINTS TO HANDLE</div>Ejercito said there are six complaints before the panel.One complaint is against all incumbent senators, he said, but did not disclose what it is about and who filed it. He said the panel has adopted its rules, which will be published so it can conduct its business.The panel will also determine in the next hearing if each of the pending complaints is sufficient in form and substance or if they are frivolous.If a complaint is found valid, the respondents will then be notified and asked to respond as the case goes to preliminary inquiry.He said the panel will decide on whether to proceed with the case based on the respondent&#x27;s answer and on whether there are similar complaints against them in other fora.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/group-files-ethics-complaint-vs-sen-bato-dela-rosa-over-prolonged-absence-1140">Group files ethics complaint vs Bato dela Rosa over months-long absence from Senate duties </a></div>He said the panel will not disclose details of the complaints, including who filed them and against who, for now.&quot;Kasi unfair naman, no? Kasi kung talagang frivolous siya, at wala naman grounds talaga,&quot; Ejercito said.He said dela Rosa&#x27;s case is actually the fifth or sixth case on a list that the panel will tackle in the order they were filed.&quot;Hindi naman pwedeng dahil mainit yung issue sa isang senador (yun ang uunahin). First in, first out, just like in any court,&quot; he said.Ejercito added the panel is authorized to conduct meetings and hearings during the Lenten break from March 21 to May 3.

"It will be dismissed. Kasi it's not — you cannot find it anywhere in our rules. Sa ethics or sa Rules of the Senate," committee chair JV Ejercito told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

"It will be dismissed. Kasi it's not — you cannot find it anywhere in our rules. Sa ethics or sa Rules of the Senate," committee chair JV Ejercito told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

'Not in our rules': Ethics complaint over Bato's prolonged absence faces dismissal

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'Not in our rules': Ethics complaint over Bato's prolonged absence faces dismissal

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 18, 2026 02:37 PM PHT

|

Updated March 18, 2026 05:46 PM PHT

Read More:

Ronald Dela Rosa

JV Ejercito

Senate

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