Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday advised Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to heed the call and voluntarily give up his salary and allowances “as soon as possible” amid his prolonged absence in the upper chamber.

Sotto reiterated his suggestion to the senator—who has not been seen in the Senate for over five months now—following the similar appeal made by Ethics committee chair Senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday.

“It’s best he do it [as soon as possible] to save the Ethics Committee from deciding for him,” the Senate President said.

“I suggested that to the daughter, his Chief of Staff, a couple of months ago. No response,” he added.

Ejercito said Wednesday that should dela Rosa refrain from receiving his salary and allowances, it may be a ground for dismissing the ethics complaint filed against him.

Dela Rosa has not made any public appearance and has not attended any session at the Senate since November 2025, amid claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him over his links to the controversial war on drugs.

It was civil society group “Wag Kang KuCorrupt” who filed the complaint against the absentee senator in February 2026, urging the Senate committee to conduct a formal inquiry into the matter, determine whether there has been a violation of Senate rules and ethical standards, and impose appropriate sanctions if warranted.

Senate

The Senate is a key legislative body in many governments, most notably the United States Senate, which was established in 1789 as part of the U.S. Congress. It was designed to provide equal representation for each state, with two senators per state, and has played a central role in shaping American law and policy. Its history includes landmark debates, such as those over civil rights and presidential impeachments, reflecting its enduring influence on national governance.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent tribunal located in The Hague, Netherlands, established to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. It was created by the Rome Statute, which entered into force on July 1, 2002, making it the first permanent international criminal court. The ICC serves as a court of last resort, intervening only when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out proceedings.