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REFLECTION

Absent Senators and Public Money: What Bato dela Rosa’s Case Reveals About the Philippine Senate

November 13, 20258 min read
Cover image for Absent Senators and Public Money: What Bato dela Rosa’s Case Reveals About the Philippine Senate

You know that feeling when you're waiting for someone to show up to do their job, and they just... don't? And nobody does anything about it? That's been happening in Philippine politics for decades, and with Bato dela Rosa's current situation, it's worth understanding the precedents.

Let me walk you through the stories of senators and congressmen who went into hiding, what their chambers did about it, and what it all means for the crisis we're facing right now.

But here's the part that will really make your blood boil: they all kept getting paid. The entire time. With our money.

The Ping Lacson Precedent: When the Senate Just Marked Him Absent

Let's start with Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, because his case is the most direct parallel to what could happen with Bato dela Rosa. Lacson was the PNP's top cop, tough as nails, and in 2010, he faced serious problems.

He was accused of being involved in the 2000 murders of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. This wasn't small-time stuff—it was a rebellion charge combined with murder.

What did Lacson do? He fled. On January 5, 2010, just two days before the Department of Justice formally named him as an accused, he left for Hong Kong. By February, a regional trial court had issued an arrest warrant, and Interpol had put out an international notice. Lacson was officially a fugitive from Philippine justice.

Now here's the thing that will blow your mind: he remained a senator the entire time. The Senate simply marked him absent. That's it. No expulsion, no sanctions, no formal action. He just... wasn't there, and the Senate moved on.

This went on for over a year—fourteen months, to be exact—until the Court of Appeals finally nullified his arrest warrants in March 2011, and he came back home.

And the whole time? He was still getting his senator's salary.

For fourteen months of hiding in another country as a fugitive, Lacson continued receiving his full senatorial compensation—salary, allowances, benefits, office budget. All funded by taxpayers.

The House Takes a Different Route: Arnie Teves Gets Expelled

Now compare that to what happened in the House of Representatives with Congressman Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr.

Teves was a congressman from Negros Oriental, and his world fell apart in March 2023 when Governor Roel Degamo was assassinated. Teves had been traveling—he was on official leave—and when his leave expired on March 9, he refused to come back. He said his life was in danger.

Instead of returning, he went abroad and eventually sought political asylum in Timor-Leste.

The House of Representatives didn't just mark him absent. Speaker Martin Romualdez warned him about expulsion in May, and then in August 2023, the House voted to expel him. This was unprecedented—the first expulsion of a House member since 1987 when the chamber was restored.

The vote was almost unanimous: 265-0, with just three abstentions.

The grounds? Abandonment of his role through persistent absence, seeking asylum abroad (which was seen as tantamount to resigning), being designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, and indecent behavior on social media.

The House argued that by being gone and seeking asylum, Teves had effectively abandoned his constituents' right to representation.

But here's what matters for our wallets: Teves was only expelled in August 2023, five months after he left the country.

For those five months—from March to August—he was still receiving his congressman's salary and benefits. That's roughly ₱1.4 to ₱1.6 million of taxpayer money for someone who was hiding abroad, facing murder charges, and absolutely not doing his job.

Senators in Prison: The Pork Barrel Scam Arrests

Then we have the other side of the coin: senators who were arrested and detained but stayed in office anyway.

In 2014, three senators got arrested in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (pork barrel) scam—Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla.

Enrile

Enrile was detained from June 20, 2014 to August 18, 2015—roughly 14 months—before being granted bail for humanitarian reasons because of age and health. He was also suspended for 90 days by the Sandiganbayan starting September 2014, one of the few instances when the Senate formally acted on a detained member.

Estrada

Estrada was detained from June 2014 to September 15, 2017—over three years—before posting ₱1.33 million bail and being released.

Revilla

Revilla was detained from June 2014 until December 2018, when he was acquitted of plunder after roughly four and a half years in detention.

Despite their arrests and long detentions, all three remained senators and continued receiving their full salaries and benefits.

The Senate didn't remove them. It didn't even debate it.

The precedent was set: you could be arrested, detained, unable to attend sessions, and still remain a senator in good standing. Your seat stays yours. And your paycheck keeps coming.

Leila de Lima: The Senator Who Worked from Detention

Now we get to Leila de Lima, and this is the case most relevant to understanding what could happen with Bato.

De Lima was arrested on February 24, 2017, on drug charges that she and human rights organizations still insist were politically motivated.

Here's what makes her case extraordinary: she actually continued working as a senator.

For over six years—2,454 days—she was incarcerated. But she remained a sitting senator the entire time.

Despite being denied access to communication and kept in solitary confinement at times, de Lima filed 142 bills and 146 resolutions by hand, sending them to her staff to file.

While she was locked up, unable to attend sessions or vote, she was still legislating.

The Senate didn’t remove her. She served out her full six-year term, lost her re-election bid in 2022, and was finally released on bail in November 2023.

Then, in June 2024, after spending those years in jail, all the charges against her were dropped. She was acquitted of everything.

But she was never expelled. She was never officially removed from the Senate for being unable to perform her duties. She just... stayed a senator while sitting in a prison cell. And yes, she continued receiving her senatorial salary the entire time — but unlike the others who hid or went silent, she kept doing the work. She earned every peso she was paid while detained.

When the Senate Offers Sanctuary: Antonio Trillanes in 2018

In August 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte revoked Trillanes's amnesty for his participation in two coup attempts years earlier.

Suddenly, there were arrest warrants out for him. On September 4, 2018, Trillanes went to his Senate office and refused to leave.

He was seeking sanctuary in the Senate building itself.

Then-Senate President Tito Sotto said: "We will not allow any senator to be arrested within Senate premises. We need to preserve its dignity."

Trillanes stayed for three weeks. Authorities arrested him in the Senate parking lot—not inside the chamber itself.

During those three weeks hiding in his Senate office, Trillanes was still receiving his full senatorial salary.

The Money Nobody Talks About

Let me spell out what all of this means in cold, hard cash.

Senators currently earn a basic monthly salary of approximately ₱242,944 to ₱293,191, depending on their salary grade.

When you add allowances, honoraria, representation expenses, and the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), the total monthly compensation can reach ₱1 million or more.

Each senator's office also gets millions in annual operating budget for staff salaries, office supplies, travel expenses, and other costs.

So when we talk about senators being absent, detained, or in hiding while still serving:

• Ping Lacson (14 months hiding) – Continued receiving full senatorial salary and office budget

• Leila de Lima (6+ years detained) – Continued receiving salary the entire time—and was actually working

• Enrile (14 months detained, 90-day suspension) – Continued receiving pay despite suspension and detention

• Estrada (3 years detained) – Continued receiving full compensation while locked up

• Revilla (4.5 years detained) – Continued receiving salary until acquittal

• Arnie Teves (5 months abroad) – About ₱1.4–1.6 million in salary before the House acted

All of this came from our taxes.

The Constitutional Reality Nobody Wants to Talk About

The Constitution says senators have parliamentary immunity from arrest while Congress is in session—but only for crimes punishable by six years or less.

For serious crimes, that immunity doesn’t apply.

But there’s another problem: there’s no mechanism to remove a senator mid-term except through expulsion by a two-thirds vote of the Senate itself.

There’s no recall. No “removal for inability to perform duties.”

And there’s no rule that says senators stop getting paid when they’re not working.

The Senate almost never expels anyone. You can be absent, detained, or even in hiding, and you’ll keep collecting your paycheck.

What This Means for Bato dela Rosa Right Now

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa faces an alleged arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court related to crimes against humanity during the drug war.

Atty. Israelito Torreon, his counsel, said: “He's not in hiding. He just wants to secure more facts... It is just but natural for Senator Bato to verify what are the facts... If he is making himself not available at the moment but that does not mean that he is in hiding.”

As of the Senate sessions on November 11–12, 2025, dela Rosa has been absent from plenary meetings and his whereabouts remain unknown. Even Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Imee Marcos said they have no idea where he is.

If he does go into hiding, history tells us what happens next:

• The Senate will likely mark him absent, not expel him.

• He’ll remain a senator, on the payroll, and continue receiving salary and benefits.

• His office will keep running with a taxpayer-funded budget of roughly ₱100 million per year.

And unless the Senate decides to act, the cycle will continue—one more chapter in the long list of officials paid for not showing up.

SOURCES

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  102. Senator Leila de Lima arrested in the Philippines - Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/2/24/senator-leila-de-lima-arrested-in-the-philippines
  103. The perks of being a Philippine senator - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/10/24/the-perks-of-being-a-philippine-senator
  104. 'Hiding is over': Teves returns to Philippines after two years - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/05/28/2361042/hiding-over-teves-returns-philippines-after-two-years
  105. Arnie Teves camp asks UN, special rapporteurs to look into his case - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/912999/arnie-teves-camp-asks-un-special-rapporteurs-to-look-into-his-case/story/
  106. Speaker warns Teves of expulsion - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/11/2264827/speaker-warns-teves-expulsion
  107. Escudero retains Senate President post as 20th Congress resumes - PNA, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233208
  108. Chiz re-elected as Senate President - Senate.gov.ph, https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2025/0727_escudero1.asp
  109. Senators of the 19th Congress - Senate.gov.ph, https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen19th.asp
  110. Sotto back as Senate President, vows to fight corruption - PNA, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236313
  111. Senate launches enhanced website - PNA, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1237844
  112. Sotto replaces Escudero as Senate President - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/07/25/sotto-replaces-escudero-as-senate-president
  113. Senators of the 20th Congress - Senate.gov.ph, https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen20th.asp
  114. Lacson says no laws broken for turning fugitive in 2010 - Inquirer.net, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1548091/lacson-says-no-laws-broken-for-turning-fugitive-in-2010
  115. Lacson flees RP to escape Arroyo 'harassment' - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/182836/lacson-flees-rp-to-escape-arroyo-harassment/story/
  116. House expels Arnie Teves for disorderly behavior - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/881044/house-expels-arnie-teves-for-disorderly-behavior/story/
  117. Lacson's escape to avoid arrest expected, says Dacer's son - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2010/02/09/544777/lacsons-escape-avoid-arrest-expected-says-dacers-son
  118. Dacer–Corbito double murder case - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacer%E2%80%93Corbito_double_murder_case
  119. Granting Leila de Lima bail must lead to dismissal of last remaining case - Amnesty Philippines, https://amnesty.org.ph/2023/11/12/granting-leila-de-lima-bail-must-lead-to-dismissal-of-last-remaining-case/
  120. Leila de Lima: Philippine court clears fierce Duterte critic of final drug charge - CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/24/asia/philippines-leila-de-lima-acquitted-duterte-intl-hnk/index.html
  121. Leila de Lima acquitted again - Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, https://www.forum-asia.org/?p=40838
  122. Philippines: Vindication for Leila de Lima as last bogus drug case dropped - Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/06/philippines-vindication-for-leila-de-lima-as-last-bogus-drug-case-dropped/
  123. Judge affirms De Lima acquittal in drug case - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/917313/judge-affirms-de-lima-acquittal-in-drug-case/story/
  124. Philippines: Six years on, arbitrary detention of former Senator de Lima must end - Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/02/philippines-six-years-on-arbitrary-detention-of-former-senator-de-lima-must-end/
  125. Leila De Lima, former CHR Chairperson, released on bail - Asia Pacific Forum, https://www.asiapacificforum.net/news/leila-de-lima-former-chr-chairperson-released-on-bail/
  126. De Lima's new dilemma: Appeals court reverses drug acquittal - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/14/2356095/de-limas-new-dilemma-appeals-court-reverses-drug-acquittal
  127. Prosecutors withdraw appeal of De Lima's acquittal in drug case - Inquirer.net, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/5184691/prosecutors-withdraw-appeal-of-de-limas-acquittal-in-drug-case
  128. Leila de Lima: Top Duterte critic arrested on drug charge - BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39068929
  129. De Lima acquitted on last of three drug cases - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/23/24/de-lima-acquitted-on-last-of-three-drug-cases
  130. On the Acquittal of Philippine Former Senator De Lima - US State Department, https://2021-2025.state.gov/on-the-acquittal-of-philippine-former-senator-de-lima/index.html
  131. Bato Dela Rosa not in hiding — Atty. Torreon - One News PH, https://www.onenews.ph/articles/watch-bato-dela-rosa-not-hiding-torreon
  132. Bato's wife appeals for due process amid reports of ICC arrest warrant - Filipino Times, https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2025/11/12/bato-dela-rosas-wife-appeals-for-due-process-amid-reports-of-icc-arrest-warrant/
  133. Duterte's counsel slams ICC arrest warrant claims vs Bato - Mindanao Times, https://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/dutertes-counsel-slams-icc-arrest-warrant-claims-vs-bato/
  134. Imee Marcos: Bato's wife seeking 'due process' amid alleged ICC arrest order - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/965866/imee-marcos-bato-s-wife-seeking-due-process-amid-alleged-icc-arrest-order/story/
  135. Bato Dela Rosa's team argues against ICC surrender under RA 9851 - Manila Times, https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/13/news/national/bato-dela-rosas-team-argues-against-icc-surrender-under-ra-9851/2221562
  136. Bato's camp urges caution, restraint amid reports on ICC arrest warrant - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/bato-s-camp-urges-caution-restraint-amid-reports-on-icc-arrest-warrant-1637
  137. DOJ 'working to verify' alleged ICC issuance of warrant for Dela Rosa - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/doj-working-to-verify-alleged-icc-issuance-of-warrant-for-dela-rosa-1102
  138. Wife of Bato dela Rosa seeks due process for the senator amid possible ICC warrant - Bombo Radyo, https://www.bomboradyo.com/wife-of-bato-dela-rosa-seeks-due-process-for-the-senator-amid-possible-icc-warrant-imee-marcos
  139. Dela Rosa's counsel: No independent confirmation on ICC arrest warrant - Inquirer.net, https://globalnation.inquirer.net/248750/dela-rosas-counsel-no-independent-confirmation-on-icc-arrest-warrant
  140. Dela Rosa says he will not hide, will stay on campaign trail - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/25/dela-rosa-says-he-will-not-hide-will-stay-on-campaign-trail
  141. 'ICC arrest warrant for Bato came from third source' - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/11/12/2025011/icc-arrest-warrant-bato-came-third-source
  142. Dela Rosa's lawyers cite legal obstacles to his turnover to ICC - Manila Times, https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/09/news/national/dela-rosas-lawyers-cite-legal-obstacles-to-his-turnover-to-icc/2220782
  143. EXCLUSIVE: Bato not alarmed by purported ICC arrest warrant - DZRH, https://dzrh.com.ph/exclusive-bato-not-alarmed-by-purported-icc-arrest-warrant/
  144. Bato dela Rosa no show as Senate resumes session - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/929332/bato-dela-rosa-no-show-as-senate-resumes-session/story/
  145. Cayetano cries due process, some House reps call for arrest - ABS-CBN, https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/cayetano-cries-due-process-some-house-reps-call-for-arrest-1139
  146. ICC arrest warrant vs. Bato out, Omb. Remulla says - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/928872/icc-arrest-warrant-vs-bato-out-omb-remulla-says/story/
  147. Bato's ICC arrest will not be like Duterte's — FPRRD legal team - Tribune, https://tribune.net.ph/2025/11/12/batos-icc-arrest-will-not-be-like-dutertes-fprrd-legal-team/
  148. DILG chief vouches for arrest Bato order - Tribune, https://tribune.net.ph/2025/11/12/dilg-chief-vouches-for-arrest-bato-order/
  149. Bato not in hiding but verifying ICC arrest warrant - Reddit Philippines, https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1ovlvvn/bato_not_in_hiding_but_verifying_icc_arrest/
  150. G.R. No. 213847 - JUAN PONCE ENRILE, PETITIONER, VS. THE SANDIGANBAYAN - Supreme Court E-Library, https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/55499
  151. Estrada released on bail after spending 3 years in prison for plunder - Sun Star, https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/135686/manila/local-news/estrada-released-on-bail-after-spending-3-years-in-prison-for-plunder
  152. Sandiganbayan clears Revilla; convicts Napoles, Cambe in plunder case - PNA, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056019
  153. JUAN PONCE ENRILE v. SANDIGANBAYAN - Lawyerly.ph - https://lawyerly.ph/juris/view/cedc1, http://Lawyerly.ph
  154. JUAN PONCE ENRILE v. SANDIGANBAYAN - Lawyerly.ph, https://lawyerly.ph/juris/view/cedc1
  155. Jinggoy set free on P1.3-M bail - Philippine Star, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/09/16/1739957/jinggoy-set-free-p13-m-bail
  156. Case Digest: G.R. No. 218232 - Revilla, Jr. vs. Sandiganbayan - JUR.ph - https://jur.ph/jurisprudence/digest/revilla-jr-v-sandiganbayan-first-division, http://JUR.ph
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  158. TIMELINE: Juan Ponce Enrile's 10-year pork barrel scam odyssey - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/910626/timeline-enrile-pork-barrel-scam/story/
  159. Son of former Philippine leader Estrada out on bail in graft case after over 3 years in prison - Straits Times, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/son-of-former-philippine-leader-estrada-out-on-bail-in-graft-case-after-over-3-years-in
  160. Revilla vs. Sandiganbayan Digest - Scribd, https://www.scribd.com/document/409634976/Revilla-vs-Sandiganbayan-Digest
  161. Sandigan junks bail plea of Enrile's ex-chief of staff - PNA, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056325
  162. Sandiganbayan denies Enrile's appeal vs. suspension - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/374994/sandiganbayan-denies-enrile-s-appeal-vs-suspension/story/
  163. Prosecutors insist Sandiganbayan has power to suspend Enrile - GMA Network, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/373052/prosecutors-insist-sandiganbayan-has-power-to-suspend-enrile/story/
  164. Analyzing the grant of bail on special and humanitarian grounds - De La Salle University, https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_law/82/
  165. Senate implements 90-day suspension order versus Enrile - Canadian Inquirer, https://canadianinquirer.net/2014/08/31/senate-implements-90-day-suspension-order-versus-enrile/
  166. Enrile suspended for 90 days - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc456
  167. How SC decision on Enrile bail came about - Inquirer Opinion, https://opinion.inquirer.net/87885/how-sc-decision-on-enrile-bail-came-about
  168. G.R. No. 213847 - JUAN PONCE ENRILE, PETITIONER, VS. HON. LUIS L. ACOSTA - Supreme Court E-Library, https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/58315
  169. G.R. No. 213847 - Lawphil, https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2015/aug2015/gr_213847_2015.html
  170. Senate carries out Enrile suspension - Inquirer.net, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/633080/senate-carries-out-enrile-suspension