Several Facebook posts are claiming that Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was removed from his post due to his continued absence from the Senate. This is not true.
Published on March 9 and March 10, the dubious posts bore this text within a graphic:
“BATO DELA ROSA, TINANGGAL SA SENADO MATAPOS ANG 4 NA BUWANG PAGABSENT (Bato Dela Rosa, removed from the Senate after four months of absence).”
There are no official reports or announcements from the Upper House nor its Secretariat concerning Dela Rosa’s “termination.”
On March 12, the senator even requested Senate President Tito Sotto to allow his family to use the Senate Mansion in Baguio City, though it was denied.
Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November, following reports that the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest against him.
The absentee senator was named by ICC prosecutors as a co-perpetrator in Duterte’s crimes against humanity case, covering his stints as Duterte’s Davao City police chief from 2012 to 2013 and national police chief from 2016 to 2018.
With Dela Rosa’s no-show, Sen. Joel Villanueva replaced him as a member of the Senate committee on justice and human rights in February. Sen. Robin Padilla also took his place in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Under Article 6, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, the Senate has the power to discipline its members. The Senate may suspend or expel senators with the concurrence of a two-thirds vote of all its members.
The false posts by FB page Bryann Tayo Panday (April 8, 2015) and an FB user have so far garnered 492 reactions, 1210 comments, and 26 shares. The post by Bryann Tayo Panday has been deleted.
