A coalition of Philippine local executives under Mayors for Good Governance has publicly criticized the Senate over the prolonged absence of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, raising concerns about accountability and public funds.

In a statement released on May 25, 2026, the group claimed that the senator had been absent for about seven months before briefly resurfacing during a Senate leadership vote on May 11, 2026.They estimated that during his absence, he continued to receive approximately PHP300,000 monthly in salary, amounting to around PHP2.1 million in total, and contrasted this with the “no work, no pay” principle commonly applied to ordinary Filipino workers.

The coalition, which includes 58 mayors across the country such as Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, urged the Senate to address what they described as a culture of absenteeism and lack of accountability within the institution.They emphasized that public office should not tolerate prolonged unexplained absences while officials continue to receive compensation.The article also reported developments involving Senator Dela Rosa’s personal and legal situation.

His wife, Grace Nancy Dela Rosa, appealed to the Supreme Court to avoid involvement in international proceedings linked to the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the court’s denial of a temporary restraining order to stop enforcement of an arrest warrant related to alleged crimes against humanity connected to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.Meanwhile, the senator remained absent from Senate sessions and was reported to be in hiding, with authorities deploying tracker teams to locate him.He was last seen leaving the Senate premises with Senator Robin Padilla in mid-May, after which he disappeared from public view.The situation has raised political debate on accountability, legal jurisdiction, and the responsibilities of elected officials while in office.