Sen. Gatchalian hopes to see Bato at bicam hearing for 2026 nat'l budget

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday expressed hope that he will see Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa at the bicameral conference committee for the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 amid the latter's continued absence at the Senate.

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives (HOR) are slated to convene on Saturday, December 13, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), which contains the proposed 2026 budget.

"I am hoping na magpakita sya bukas," Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters in a virtual interview.

(I am hoping he will attend tomorrow.)

Dela Rosa is among the senators elected to represent the upper chamber during the bicameral meeting.

He was designated as one of the contingents due to his vice-chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee.

"Hindi naman sya nagresign...unless magreresign ka, ang rule ng committee is kung vice-chair ka automatic kang conferee," Gatchalian added.

(He did not resign so unless he resigned, the rule of the committee is he will automatically be a conferree if he is a Senate Finance Committee vice-chairperson.)

Dela Rosa's absence at the Senate started after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant of arrest against him over the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

He was a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and was the main implementer of the campaign against illegal drugs during the previous administration.

Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, previously, said that the senator is avoiding public appearance because “his personal safety is at stake” amid the reported arrest warrant against him from the ICC.

"'Yung kanyang personal safety is at stake. Maka-speculate lamang ako kasi hindi ako makasabi for him even I am his lawyer. He is just making himself unavailable,” Torreon said.

(His personal safety is at stake. I can only speculate because I cannot speak for him even though I am his lawyer. He is just making himself unavailable.)

'No secret' 

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said Senator Jinggoy Estrada will not be replaced following his withdrawal as member of the bicameral committee, adding there are no existing Senate rules on the scenario.

"Walang rule kung ilan. Depende sa chairman kung ilan ang conferrees. Ang sinundan ko lang yung tradition na sinimulan ni Sen. Legarda na pag vice-chair, automatic conferree ka," he added. 

(There is no rule on the number of contingents. It all depends on the chairperson. I only followed the tradition that Sen. Legarda started, wherein Senate Finance Committee vice chairpersons will automatically be members of the bicam.)

Gatchalian also assured there will be no "secret" bicam or small group meetings between legislators ahead of the scheduled convening on Saturday.

"Wala. Even among conferees, wala rin eh. Nag-uusap lang kami through texts  or call," he added.

(There are no small group meetings between senators or other conferrees. We only talk through texts or calls.)

Senators Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Camille Villar, Christopher “Bong” Go, and Imee Marcos will represent the Senate to the bicam. Meanwhile, 11 House lawmakers were elected to represent the HOR. —VAL, GMA Integrated News