Despite his continued absence from Senate sessions, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was still able to file two proposed measures in the Senate.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, lawmakers read Senate Bill No. 2080, also known as the Counter Foreign Interference Act, and Senate Bill No. 2079, or the National Police Clearance System Act. Both measures carried the signature of Dela Rosa.
The senator has reportedly stopped appearing at the Senate since November 2025 following reports regarding an alleged arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Because of his prolonged absence, Dela Rosa is now facing an ethics complaint over claims that he continues to receive his salary and allowances despite failing to attend Senate work and sessions.
The Senate Committee on Ethics has already asked the senator to submit his comment regarding the issue.
The filing of the two bills came even as questions continue to surround Dela Rosa’s absence from the Senate. No additional statement from the senator regarding the controversy was immediately available.
The Counter Foreign Interference Act seeks to address alleged foreign intervention activities, while the National Police Clearance System Act aims to establish a more organized police clearance system in the country.
Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief, has been linked to the ICC investigation connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. Reports surrounding the alleged ICC warrant surfaced months before his continued nonappearance in Senate sessions.
