JV Ejercito asks Bato to comment on proposed 'no work, no pay' policy

Senate ethics committee chairperson JV Ejercito said Monday that he asked Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to comment on the proposal to amend the rules and include the “no work, no pay” policy for absentee senators.

Ejercito made the confirmation after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges held a meeting this morning to discuss the complaints lodged before the panel.

“Because of the issues, there is a proposal to amend the rules of the Senate already on absenteeism. The committee already acted on it by asking Senator Dela Rosa to comment regarding this proposal to amend the rules,” he said.

When asked if he was referring to the “no work, no pay” proposal, Ejercito answered in the affirmative.

“As I’ve mentioned before, ‘yan ‘yung dilemma ko noon eh (that’s my dilemma before)…na (that) we cannot act on it because we have to have the plenary, we have to be in session. The Senate as a body has to amend the rules,” he added.

Ejercito said they are awaiting Dela Rosa's response regarding the matter.

Dela Rosa has not made any public appearance and has not attended any session at the Senate since November 2025, amid claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him over his links to the controversial war on drugs.

The absentee senator is currently facing an ethics complaint over his prolonged absence.

Ejercito said he hopes Dela Rosa will heed his call to voluntarily forgo his Senate salary and allowances while he remains absent.

“Siguro just to be fair also, maganda naman na sana isakripisyo nalang ‘yung allowance and salary specifically kasi ‘yun nga, sabi nga ordinaryong [manggagawa], no work, no pay. It has to apply to all,” he said.

(Maybe just to be fair too, it would be better if he would sacrifice his allowance and salary because even ordinary workers don’t get paid if they don’t go to work. It has to apply to all.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Dela Rosa's office but it has yet to reply as of posting time

4 complaints junked

Ejercito also gave an update regarding the nine complaints pending before the panel, saying that four were dismissed for being frivolous and failing to comply with basic requirements on form and substance.

“Those deemed non-compliant will be returned to the complainants and they will be given the chance to correct and refile,” Ejercito said.

Action on the three other complaints, meanwhile, was deferred.

The remaining two dockets still require a response from a government agency to assist the committee in resolving the cases.

Ejercito said the committee agreed to keep all proceedings and docket details confidential. — RSJ, GMA News