Civil society group files ethics rap vs Dela Rosa over long absence

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
February 25, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Cielo Magno/Facebook)

QUEZON CITY — ‘Wag Kang KuCorrupt civil society group filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for his “prolonged absence from official duties” since November last year.

Prof. Cielo Magno, on behalf of the group, filed the complaint before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The group cited Dela Rosa’s over three-month, persisting absence in the upper chamber as an overt “grave abuse” and a failure to fulfill his mandate as an elected public official.

“Isa itong pang aabuso sa pribilehiyo at sampal sa mga ordinaryong empleyado at manggagawa na agad kinakaltasan sa bawat araw na hindi pumapasok sa trabaho,” ‘Wag Kang KuCorrupt said in a statement.

(This is an abuse of privilege and a slap to ordinary employees and workers whose daily wages are quickly cut off should they not make it to work.)

“Dapat nga mas mataas pa ang standards at mas strikto ang mga rules sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno, lalo na sa mga may mataas na katungkulan tulad ng Senador dahil pondo ng bayan mula sa mga nagtatrabaho at nagbabayad ng buwis ang gamit pampasweldo,” it added.

(In fact, the standards should be higher, and the rules should be stricter for government officials, especially for those who hold high positions, such as a senator, because it’s the public funds from workers and taxpayers that are used to pay their salaries.)

Dela Rosa has not been seen in public following Ombudsman Crispin Remulla’s claim last year that there’s a looming arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his key role as a co-perpetrator in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs campaign.