Ping Lacson spoke about the salaray of Bato dela Rosa
Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa is still receiving his P237,000 monthly salary despite an appeal not to accept it until he returns to work, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said.
Dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions since November 11, 2025. As of this writing, the senator is still not showing up, and his prolonged absence has led to warnings of potential ethics cases for dereliction of duty.
To recall, the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) was co-accused alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte in crimes against humanity cases related to the “war on drugs”.
Even though Sen. Bato dela Rosa has been absent, he continues to receive his salary. Previously, Senate President Tito Sotto said that there is no direct protocol when it comes to the absences of senators.
In a recent interview, based on the article in Abante News Online, Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed that Dela Rosa is still receiving his salary.
“Sumusuweldo siya, unless kusang loob niya na i-waive ang kanyang suweldo, wala namang makakapagpigil para hindi ibigay ang kanyang suweldo,” Lacson said, adding that the monthly salary of all senators is P237,000 and they do not receive any allowance.
He also said that the budget of each committee is not personal. This is called MOOE or the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, which is being used for the office.
The P237K is just a salary, but the MOOE is intended for the office expenses. “Ngayon, kung ang miyembro ng Senado, ng Kongreso na binubulsa ang lahat ng pondo ng opisyal eh nasa kanila na yun,” Lacson added.
Previously, Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, also appealed to Dela Rosa to volunteer to forgo his salary and allowances until he enters the Senate. Ejercito wanted his fellow senator to observe the “no work, no pay” policy, which is observed by ordinary Filipino workers.
Based on the report, on Tuesday, April 28, members of the ethics committee will meet to discuss the ethics complaint filed against Dela Rosa, who has not appeared in the Senate since November 2025, following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against the senator in connection with his role in the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Lacson, on the other hand, said that it is Dela Rosa’s decision whether to heed the call to forgo his monthly salary.
“Personal desisyon niya yun, individual decision..kung gusto niyang magkusa dahil yun ang public opinion… ipaubaya na lang natin sa kanya ‘yun,” Sen. Ping Lacson said about Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
