Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson Speaks on Sen. Bato dela Rosa Anew
PING LACSON – The Senate President Pro Tempore expressed his belief that Senator Bato dela Rosa should go to work.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa is no show in the Senate sessions since Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly released an arrest warrant against him. According to Senate Pres. Tito Sotto, dela Rosa was no show since November 11 when the session resumed.
Despite his non-appearance during the Senate sessions, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto claimed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s office remains functional. His claim came after countless netizens criticized the confirmation that the Senator receives his salary despite his long absence in the chamber’s sessions.
According to Sotto, the “no work, no pay” rule does not apply to senators and there was allegedly a case in the House of Representatives that it is even worst with regards to absences. Senate Finance Committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian also claimed that senators continue to be paid despite their absence in sessions.
The Department of Interior and Local Government previously confirmed that they are monitoring the Senator. According to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, they allegedly know the whereabouts of Sen. Bato dela Rosa but they could not act on it without an arrest warrant.
Dela Rosa previously asked the Supreme Court to compel the Ombudsman to release a copy of the alleged ICC arrest warrant against him but his appeal was denied by the high court. Amid his supposed hiding, the Senator’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, claimed that his client might make himself available if the government’s course of actions would be clarified.
Amid his supposed hiding, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian believes that Sen. Bato dela Rosa should go back to work. Based on a report on Inquirer, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson has the same stance over the matter. According to him, it does not make sense that the Senator is hiding as he is allegedly not wanted.
“Unang-una, it doesn’t make sense to me na nagtatago siya. Hindi naman siya wanted eh. I don’t know, nasaan yung warrant,” Lacson said.
Based on the report, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson expressed his belief that Sen. Bato dela Rosa should go back to work. According to him, unless the Senator has seen himself the supposed ICC arrest warrant, that’s the only time he must be hiding.
“Kung ako siya, papasok na muna ako. Kung walang malinaw na may darating na arrest warrant, pumasok na muna siya. Sayang din yung boto niya sa mga bills, sa mga resolutions,” the Senate President Pro Tempore said.
Recently, the lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa requested from the Department of Justice or DOJ information on the alleged ICC arrest warrant against the Senator.