Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson yesterday said the salary of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – who has been absent at the Senate since November last year – may be withheld should there be a recommendation by the Senate ethics committee,
In an ambush interview, Lacson said former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV went to the Senate earlier in the day to meet him and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Among those that were discussed, he said, was Trillanes’ plan to file an ethics complaint against dela Rosa.
Quoting Trillanes, Lacson said the complaint may be filed in March.
The Senate may then use a possible recommendation by the ethics committee to amend the rules that would pave the way for sanctions against dela Rosa.
“More or less, one of the suggestions is that his salary might be suspended or be withheld. I told SP earlier that we should study that carefully because we are covered by the Civil Service Law. The plan not to pay a sitting senator might not work if there is no basis,” Lacson said.
