Dela Rosa loses ‘almost all’ committee posts following continued absence

After being replaced by Sen. Joel Villanueva as a member of the Senate Justice Committee, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has lost ‘almost all’ of his committee memberships due to his months-long absence from the Senate.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed this Wednesday, adding that dela Rosa’s remaining memberships are limited to committees that have not met recently.

“We are simply following Senate rules. Therefore, the committees that have not met recently retain his membership,” Sotto said.

Sotto cited Rule XI, Section 23 on the Rules of the Senate, which states that a member’s post may be relinquished after unexplained absences in five successive committee meetings.

Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November 2025, after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against him over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa continues to receive his salary despite his absence.

The reelected senator was listed by the ICC as one of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity during the drug war.

Since his absence, dela Rosa lost his post in the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges in January. He and Villanueva were replaced by Sens. Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta.

Last week, dela Rosa’s Blue Ribbon Committee membership was also handed to Sen. Robin Padilla.

Meanwhile, a civil society group led by former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno has filed an ethics complaint against dela Rosa, arguing that his continued absence is both a neglect of duty and a betrayal of public trust.