Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Speaks on Absences of Senators during Senate Sessions
Senators are not under a “No Work, No Pay” rule according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian amid the long absence of Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Amid the doubts of the public over his previous claim, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he supposedly has a “copy” of the arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa issued by the ICC or the International Criminal Court. The Senator has long claimed that the foreign court allegedly wants to arrest and investigate him.
Following the arrest and the transfer of the custody of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has changed his stance several times over the possibility that an ICC arrest warrant will be also issued against him. He initially expressed willingness to take care of the “old man” in The Hague.
However, after a while, Dela Rosa claimed that he will seek all legal remedies to avoid arrest. He also admitted that hiding is one of the options that he may consider if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.
Since the Ombudsman claimed that the ICC has allegedly issued an arrest warrant against him, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has been skipping the Senate sessions. He has not attended sessions with his fellow senators since November 11 when the upper chamber resumed its sessions.
Previously, the Department of Justice or DOJ said that they are mandated to executive in case an ICC arrest warrant will be issued against Sen. Dela Rosa. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that she can recommend an international lawyer for the Senator if he is interested in getting one.
Amid the long absence of Sen. Bato dela Rosa in the Senate sessions, his lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, claimed that he is still in the Philippines and may never leave the country because he loves PH very much. According to the lawyer, Dela Rosa might make himself available once the government has clarified its course of actions.
Recently, amid the long absence of Sen. Bato dela Rosa in the Senate sessions, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian spoke on the pay rule for senators who are absent during sessions in the upper chamber. Based on a report on GMA News, he claimed that from what he knows, senators are not covered by the “No Work, No Pay” rule.
“Sa pagkaalam ko, walang ganyan na set-up sa mga senators,” Gatchalian said.
According to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, while the senators are not subject to the “No Work, No Pay” Rule, it is important that the lawmakers should follow the “proper procedure”. An Based on the report, an absent senator should submit a formal letter to the committee.
“The Senate President should also receive a formal letter stating why you cannot attend. These formal letters are important because they will be the official reason for a senator’s absence,” the Senator said.
Recently, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto revealed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa is absent since November 11 and his absence during the budget deliberation is not okay with him.