Trillanes to file ethics complaint vs Bato dela Rosa in few months

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday said they will file an ethics complaint against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over his non-attendance at the Senate within a few months.

“We will be filing an ethics case against him kase tuloy-tuloy ‘yung ano, ang pagpondo ng gobyerno sa kanyang opisina pero without any reason ay hindi siya pumapasok,” Trillanes said on Balitanghali.

(We will be filing an ethics case against him because it’s ongoing, the government keeps funding his office, but he is not reporting for work without any reason.)

Trillanes said they are giving Dela Rosa time in case he changes his mind.

“Otherwise, dereliction of duty ito (this is a dereliction of duty),” he said.

When sought for comment, Dela Rosa’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, said he has discussed the possible filing of the complaint with Dela Rosa’s spouse.

“I texted the beloved wife of Senator Bato about it and intimated to her about that case. May napagusapan na po kami kung anong gagawin po (we have talked about what should be done),” he said in an ambush interview.

Torreon said he has had no chance to talk with the senator.

He also said he could not answer whether Dela Rosa is still in the country. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said that Dela Rosa is believed to be in Davao.

Torreon also said he believes that the public understands the senator’s situation when asked about concerns regarding Dela Rosa’s non attendance.

“With all due respect to the question, I think the taong bayan understands his situation. He’s in a unique situation, simply because of the fact that there was already a very good example as to what happened to former President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.

Dela Rosa has not attended any plenary session at the Senate since November 2025 after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged that the ICC has issued a warrant of arrest against him.

But Dela Rosa broke his silence on Wednesday, as he marked his 64th birthday and released a statement saying he is still "waiting."

Meanwhile, Trillanes alleged that information he has been providing about Dela Rosa's location is being leaked by the latter's contacts in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“May mga nakukuha tayong impormasyon. Pinapasa natin… pero alam ninyo, sa  dami ng contacts ni Bato dyan sa PNP eh.. nile-leak lang nila. so I think yung pinaka effective dito yung signal intelligence para ma-track siya kasi he’s been communicating with his family,” he said.

(We are getting some information. We pass it on… but you know, with the many contacts Bato has there in the PNP… they just leak it. So I think the most effective thing here is signal intelligence to track him because he’s been communicating with his family.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News