SP Sotto: Bato’s office still working despite his absence

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Friday that the office of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is still functioning despite his prolonged absence amid the alleged issuance of arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Sotto, however, said Dela Rosa has not responded to any of his text messages since late last year. 

“Wala, hindi kumo-kontak sa’kin eh. ‘Yung mga phone numbers niya sa’kin, there were, I think, about two or three times na tinext ko, wala namang reply... Sa text hindi nagrereply, tawag pa lalo,” the Senate President said in a Zoom interview with reporters. 

(He’s not contacting me. I think I messaged him two or three times, but he did not respond. He’s not replying to my text messages, what more if I call him?) 

Sotto said his last text message to the absentee senator was before the deliberations of the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget, where Dela Rosa was a member of. 

Dela Rosa has not attended any plenary session at the Senate since November 11. 

His absences began after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged that the ICC has issued a warrant of arrest against the former over the bloody war on drugs during the Duterte administration, where he served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Nonetheless, Sotto affirmed that Dela Rosa’s office at the Senate is still functioning. 

“Marami naman kaming nakasama nung araw na ganon naman talaga eh. Hindi porket hindi pumapasok, eh hindi umaandar ang opisina mo,” he said. 

(I had many colleagues before who were like that. It's not because they don't come to the Senate, their office is no longer working.) 

“Si Senator Bato, umaandar ang opisina niya,” he added.

(Senator Bato’s office is working.) 

The Senate President also said he could not compel any of the senators to attend the session, unless they are needed for a vote. 

He explained that Dela Rosa does not need to ask for his permission should he wish to leave the country. According to him, a letter of authority is only requested if a senator is going for an official business abroad. 

Asked if he will encourage Dela Rosa to already come to the Senate, Sotto said, “Lahat ng 23 senators, kahit na Senate President ako noon tsaka ngayon, hindi ko pinapakialaman kung papasok sila at hindi eh, so why now?”

(When I was Senate President before and until now, I’ve not cared if the 23 senators would come to work or not, so why should I do it now?) 

“Mahirap naman ‘yung sitwasyon ko na ‘yun… kasi alam naman natin na umiilag siya doon sa problema 'di ba? So ba't ko siya pipilitin kung umiilag siya sa problema? It’s his own look out, managot siya sa mga bumoto sa kanya. Basta ginagawa ng opisina niya ang trabaho nila, then we keep the office running,” he added. 

(That’s difficult because we know that he just wants to dodge his problems. So why should I force him to show up? It's his own look out, he has to be responsible for those who voted for him. As long as his office does its work, then we keep the office running.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News