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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bato logs 27 absences; eight senators show perfect attendance in Senate's first regular session

Bato logs 27 absences; eight senators show perfect attendance in Senate's first regular session

Published Apr 8, 2026 05:36 pm

At A Glance

  • Records show Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa having logged only 27 session days. He recorded 31 absences during the first regular session of the Senate in the 20th Congress.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and seven other senators have zero absences during the First Regular Session of the Senate in the 20th Congress.

This is based on the attendance record released by the Office of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri from July 28, 2025 to March 18, 2026. The First Regular Session of the Senate has 58 session days.

Aside from Sotto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Robinhood “Robin” Padilla, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher “Bong” Go, Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva also sported perfect attendance during this period.

On the other hand, records show Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa having logged only 27 session days. He recorded 31 absences during the first regular session.

Dela Rosa has not attended Senate plenary sessions since November 11, 2025 when news of a supposed warrant of arrest against him issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), in relation to his involvement during the Duterte administration’s drug war, surfaced.

Neophyte Senator Camille Villar, meanwhile, was present for 42 session days and was absent for 16 days. She went on maternity leave from October 2025 to January 2026.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, logged 44 session days as present and was absent for 14 session days.

Cayetano was followed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who was present for 51 session days; Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, with 52 days present; Sen. Mark Villar, 53 days present; Sen. Pia Cayetano, 54 days present; Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, 54 days present; Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, with 55 days present; Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, with 56 days present; Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Imee Marcos, also with 56 days present.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson was also present for 56 days; he was absent for two session days.

Senators Rodante Marcoleta, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Erwin Tulfo logged 57 sessions present.

Related Tags

SENATE senators plenary session
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