MANILA, Philippines — As expected, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has topped the list of senators with the most number of absences from plenary sessions during the first regular session of the 20th Congress.
Dela Rosa has not been seen in the Senate since November 2025 due to rumors of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for him in the crimes against humanity case of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The Legislative Journal Service attendance records of the first regular session from July 28, 2025 to March 18 showed Dela Rosa logged 31 absences in 58 session days.
Dela Rosa is facing an ethics complaint for his physical absences in the Senate and for keeping a low profile instead of reporting to work.
But the Senate leadership said Dela Rosa and his staff will continue receiving their salaries due to the absence of a “no work, no pay” policy.
Sen. Camille Villar recorded 16 absences for her maternity leave from October to January.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano logged 14 absences.
Senators with a perfect attendance are Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go and Risa Hontiveros.
Those with near-perfect attendance are Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Senators Bam Aquino, Loren Legarda and Imee Marcos, who all attended 56 sessions.
Senators Francis Pangilinan, Rodante Marcoleta and Erwin Tulfo attended 57 sessions.
Sen. Francis Escudero attended 55 session days.
Senators who failed to get a perfect attendance were either absent or on official missions, both local and abroad.
Senators JV Ejercito and Raffy Tulfo have six absences each, followed by Mark Villar with five, Pia Cayetano with three and Lito Lapid with two.