LOOK: Senate minority bloc meets ahead of plenary session sans Bato

Members of the Senate minority bloc on Tuesday met ahead of the opening of the plenary session for the period of amendments to the proposed 2026 P6.7-trillion national budget.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano led the bloc's meeting, which was attended by Senators Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, and Joel Villanueva.

Noticeably absent was Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who has been skipping Senate sessions after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant of arrest against him over the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Earlier, Sotto called out Dela Rosa for failing to defend the proposed 2026 budget of key security agencies due to his continued absence, saying he would look into possible sanctions for such prolonged non-attendance. — VDV, GMA Integrated News