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Senate data show some lawmakers present in all sessions, while others logged multiple absences. Sen. Bato dela Rosa skipped for 31 days.
Philstar.com illustration
MANILA, Philippines — Attendance data from the Senate’s first regular session showed wide differences in how often senators were physically present in plenary, with several lawmakers posting near-perfect attendance and others recording double-digit absences.
Based on the Senate’s roll call report covering July 28, 2025 to March 18, 2026, some senators such as Jinggoy Estrada, Robin Padilla, Tito Sotto, Joel Villanueva were present in all 58 session days.
Others like Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Bong Go, Win Gatchalian, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos also registered strong attendance records, being "present" despite not having responded to the roll call on all 58 days.
Others split their attendance between direct roll call response, "also present" status and official missions.
Absences. The same table showed that Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa logged the highest number of absences at 31, followed by Alan Peter Cayetano with 14 and Camille Villar with 16, though Villar’s tally included maternity leave from October 2025 to January 2026.
Senators' attendance
20th Congress of the Philippines, Senate, First Regular Session | July 28, 2025 to March 18, 2026 | Session No. 58
* Oct. 2025 to Jan. 2026 (maternity leave). No. of roll calls made: 58.
In hiding?
Dela Rosa’s 31 absences stood out because they accounted for more than half of the 58 session days covered by the report.
He has not been seen in the Senate since November 2025, after Ombudsman Boying Remulla alleged that the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant against him.
The ICC Office of the Prosecutor later identified Dela Rosa as one of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case tied to the Duterte administration’s drug war.
In January, Senate President Tito Sotto said the senator’s office was still operating even if Dela Rosa himself had not been attending plenary sessions.
That has done little to quiet questions about how long a senator can remain away from session and receive their salary while still retaining the benefits and authority of office. — with reports from Interaksyon / Jeline Malasig
