Sen. JV Ejercito said Wednesday that the Senate Committee on Ethics will handle the complaint involving Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in accordance with existing rules and filing order, even as questions mount over the lawmaker’s prolonged absence from Senate sessions.
In an interview on DZRH’s “Dos Por Dos”, Ejercito, who chairs the ethics panel, said the case involving Dela Rosa is not among the earliest complaints filed before the committee and will still undergo the standard process before any action can be taken.
“Nasa panglima pa nga yung kaso niya, pang-apat, panglima. So, malayo-layo pa”
He said the committee follows a “first in, first out” system in reviewing cases, adding that even high-profile or controversial issues cannot be prioritized outside established procedures.
Ejercito noted that there is currently no provision in Senate rules allowing automatic penalties such as suspension of salary or the ‘no work, no pay’ for absentee members, saying any such policy would require formal amendments to the chamber’s regulations once Congress resumes session.
“Yung legal impediment dito, wala sa Senate rules yung no work, no pay. So bago kami maka-action at siya po'y ma-sanction under the Ethics Committee, kailangan i-amendahan pa yung rules ng Senado mismo and we are on break,” Ejercito said.
“Masisimulan lang yan, magagawa lang yan pagkabalik namin sa plenaryo para amendahan yung rules ng Senado mismo,” he added.
The senator also acknowledged public criticism over Dela Rosa’s extended absence, which has drawn scrutiny since last year, with some sectors questioning his continued receipt of salaries and allowances.
He said he has raised the matter with Senate leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who agreed to consider possible rule amendments when plenary sessions resume.
“Nakausap ko rin ang majority leader, si Sen. Migz Zubiri and Sen. Tito Sotto na sabi ko, kailangan nung natin amyendahan. Sabi nila, sige i-agenda na natin yung amendment na rules para nga po maisama ito,” the Senator said.
Ejercito, however, said the ethics committee cannot bypass due process and must wait for the proper time to take up the complaint.
He also made a personal appeal for voluntary action from Dela Rosa, suggesting that waiving compensation during periods of absence could help ease public concern and potentially lessen the need for formal disciplinary proceedings.
“Nakikiusap o nag-a-appeal na po sa kanya na unahan niya na po na sana i-forgo niya na, i-waive niya na po yung kanyang salaries and allowances habang siya po ay naka-extended, sinasabi natin, diba dahil hindi po siya physically present.”
“So ito naman i-appeal sa kanya para at least, who knows, baka hindi na natin mag-go through the ethics proceedings kung siya na mismo. Siya na mismo ang mag-voluntary i-waive niya yung salary allowance.”
