Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Speaks on Fellow Sen. Bato dela Rosa
SHERWIN GATCHALIAN – The Senator claimed that the lawmakers in the Senate are not allegedly under the “No Work, No Pay” rule amid the long absence of fellow Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
After Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly issued an arrest warrant against him, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was no show during the Senate sessions. His camp claimed that he is not hiding and he is still in the country.
According to the lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, he is still in the PH and may not leave the country amid the reported ICC arrest warrant. Atty. Israelito Torreon claimed that Dela Rosa loves the country very much and he just waits for the course of action of the government to be clear.
Amid the questions on the veracity of his claim, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he allegedly has a ‘copy’ of the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. According to him, he has it in his phone and other concerned agencies supposedly still does not have a copy.
Dela Rosa has always claimed that he is allegedly the next person that the ICC wants to arrest and investigate after the foreign court has arrested former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive remains under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands since March.
Despite the claim of his camp that he allegedly remains in the country, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was absent during the Senate budget hearing for the deliberation of the proposed fund of the Department of National Defense. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was the one who defended the proposed fund of the DND.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee while Sen. Bato dela Rosa is the vice chairman. Reportedly, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief sent a letter to the Senate to inform it about his absence but he did not specify the reason.
Recently, amid the long absence of Sen. Bato dela Rosa since November 11 when the Senate session resumed, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian claimed that the “No Work, No Pay” rule allegedly does not apply to senators who don’t show up in Senate sessions. Based on a report on GMA News, he claimed that the lawmakers just need to submit an excuse letter.
“Sa pagkaalam ko, walang ganyan na set-up sa mga senators. The Senate President should also receive a formal letter stating why you cannot attend. These formal letters are important because they will be the official reason for a senator’s absence,” Gatchalian said.
With regards to the issue of prolonged absences, based on the report, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian claimed that it should be discussed among them senators in a caucus. According to him, he does not believe that a similar issue has happened in the past.
Previously, the Senate Chief confirmed that the absence of Dela Rosa is not okay with him. Senate Pres. Tito Sotto also spoke on the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa.