The Senate may soon formalize a “no-work-no-pay” rule for its members over unauthorized absences amid the prolonged absence of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson said that while dela Rosa voluntarily stopped receiving his salary and allowances during his absence since November 2025, many senators are inclined to amend the Senate rules to formally address the matter.
In Filipino: Lacson: Senado, Tinitingnang Pormalisahin ang No-Work, No-Pay Rule sa Unauthorized Absences
“Pag unauthorized na ang absence, dapat hindi parang self-imposed lang o unilateral na di kukunin ang sweldo. Dapat official na merong sulat sa Land Bank, sa Treasury, na isu-suspend ang sweldo o ititigil (When the absence is unauthorized, it should not be a case of one voluntarily not receiving his or her salary. There should be an official correspondence to the Land Bank and the Treasury to suspend or even stop giving the salary of the person involved),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.
Except for a few days last May, dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November 2025. He fled the Senate compound during a shooting incident last May 13.
Dela Rosa has been in hiding following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court.
Lacson said the main obstacle to the Senate’s action on the matter is its tight schedule. Aside from its regular legislative work, the Senate is scrutinizing and preparing to pass the 2027 national budget measure, and trying the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Hindi (kami) maka-schedule ng ethics hearing si Sen. Tito Sotto kasi sobrang abala kami these days (Ethics committee chairman Sen. Vicente Sotto III cannot schedule an ethics hearing because of our tight schedule these days),” he said.
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Lacson: Senado, Tinitingnang Pormalisahin ang No-Work, No-Pay Rule sa Unauthorized Absences
Maaaring pormal nang ipatupad ng Senado ang “no-work-no-pay” rule para sa mga miyembrong lumiliban nang walang pahintulot, kasunod ng matagal nang pagliban ni Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo.
Sinabi ni Lacson na bagama’t kusang-loob nang hindi tumatanggap ng kanyang suweldo at allowance si dela Rosa sa panahon ng kanyang pagliban mula Nobyembre 2025, marami sa mga senador ang nakahilig na amyendahan ang mga patakaran ng Senado upang pormal na matugunan ang usapin.
“Pag unauthorized na ang absence, dapat hindi parang self-imposed lang o unilateral na di kukunin ang sweldo. Dapat official na merong sulat sa Land Bank, sa Treasury, na isu-suspend ang sweldo o ititigil,” aniya sa isang panayam sa DZBB radio.
Maliban sa ilang araw noong Mayo, hindi na pumasok sa Senado si dela Rosa mula Nobyembre 2025. Umalis siya sa loob ng compound ng Senado habang nagaganap ang isang insidente ng pamamaril noong Mayo 13.
Nagtatago si dela Rosa matapos maglabas ang International Criminal Court ng arrest warrant laban sa kanya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na ang pangunahing hadlang sa pagkilos ng Senado sa usapin ay ang masikip nitong iskedyul. Bukod sa regular na gawaing lehislatibo, sinusuri at inihahanda ng Senado ang pagpasa sa 2027 national budget measure, habang nililitis nito ang impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Hindi (kami) maka-schedule ng ethics hearing si Sen. Tito Sotto kasi sobrang abala kami these days,” aniya.
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