Bato seeks use of Senate Mansion for family; Senate exec says unlikely due to ongoing repairs

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has asked Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s permission for his family to use the Senate Mansion in Baguio City.

Sotto confirmed Friday that he received a letter from Dela Rosa, who has been absent from the Senate for four months now. 

The Senate President, who described Dela Rosa’s letter as a “privileged communication,” said that he referred the request to the Senate Secretariat.

Request denied?

Reached for his comment, Senate Secretary Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza also confirmed receipt of the letter, but said the Senate Mansion is undergoing repairs as of the moment.

“The Senate mansion is undergoing repairs now and the policy is the family must be accompanied by the senator,” Mendoza told reports. 

Asked if the senator’s request will be denied because of the ongoing repairs, Mendoza said, “Yes.”

In his letter, Dela Rosa sought permission from Sotto’s office to use the Senate Mansion from in late March to supposedly accommodate the senator’s family. 

GMA News Online sought confirmation from Dela Rosa’s office and will update this story once it responds. 

To recall, Dela Rosa has not made any public appearance and has not attended any session at the Senate since November 2025. 

His absences began after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him over the bloody war on drugs. 

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor later identified Dela Rosa as one of the alleged co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte in his crimes against humanity case. 

An ethics complaint has also been filed against Dela Rosa over his continued absence in the Senate. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News