Senate Considers Possible Withholding of Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s Salary

The Senate has raised the possibility of withholding the salary of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, pending the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson said.

Speaking to reporters, Lacson said one of the proposals being discussed is the suspension or stoppage of dela Rosa’s pay, although he cautioned that the matter requires careful legal review.

“More or less, ‘yun yung isang suggestion na baka i-suspend o itigil ‘yung sweldo... Sabi ko kay SP (Senate President) kanina, ipaaral natin mabuti kasi covered kami ng Civil Service Law. Baka ‘di umubra ‘yung hindi mo paswelduhin ‘yung senador kung walang basehan,” Lacson said.

He added, however, that the Senate is bound by its own rules and the recommendations of the ethics committee, once these are adopted by the plenary.

“Pero tama rin si SP, we have our own rules, bound tayo ng ethics committee recommendation. Once ma-adopt sa plenary, pwedeng isa sa mga recommendation, pwedeng i-implement ng plenary na itigil ‘yung sweldo. That’s one of the suggestions,” Lacson said.

Despite acknowledging the proposal, Lacson made clear that he would not take part in any recommendation to sanction dela Rosa, citing his own past experience.

“I will not be part of any recommendation to sanction him if it comes to that in relation to his long absence for one simple reason – I have no moral authority as I was in almost the same situation more than 15 years ago,” Lacson said.

Lacson had gone into hiding in 2010 while he was serving as a senator, a period he said mirrors the situation now being scrutinized in relation to dela Rosa.

The Senate Committee on Ethics has yet to issue any formal recommendation, and no final decision has been made on whether dela Rosa’s salary can or will be withheld.