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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian: Absent senators forgo salaries

Gatchalian: Absent senators forgo salaries

Published Aug 28, 2026 02:50 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian disclosed this saying that even Sen. Loren Legarda, who earlier filed for an extended medical leave, have also declined accepting her pay.


Senators who have been absent from Senate plenary sessions either due to detention, medical problems, or other reasons have voluntarily decided not to receive their salaries.

Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian disclosed this on Thursday, August 27 saying that even Sen. Loren Legarda, who earlier filed for an extended medical leave, had also declined accepting her pay.

“When she filed for medical leave and she is also not collecting her salary. In fact, the detained senators and the senator-at-large are also voluntarily foregoing their salaries,” Gatchalian said.

Legarda earlier filed five medical leaves covering Aug. 3 to Aug. 5, Aug. 11 to Aug. 12, Aug. 17 to Aug. 19, and Aug. 24 and Aug. 26, as well as Sept. 1 to Sept. 2.

According to Gatchalian, he is aware of Legarda’s medical condition but declined to provide details about the issue.

“It's a very personal matter. I am aware of her illness; even before this, we were personal friends, and she had already confided in me about having a serious condition,” the Senate chief said.

Gatchalian said he has instructed the Senate’s accounting and payroll department to suspend the release of their salaries.

He said the Senate can declare the unused salaries as savings and use it for something else.

“I wish her well; illnesses like this really need to be taken seriously,” he said.

Legarda has not publicly disclosed the nature of her illness, but earlier, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that her medical leave could be related to lung problems.

Legarda and her son, Rep. Leandro Leviste, are currently facing high-profile plunder and graft complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, which earlier flagged their absences as “highly suspicious.”

Both were accused of alleged irregularities and “ghost electricity” projects in connection to Leviste’s solar companies, which supposedly failed to deliver committed power generation despite securing exclusive government service contracts, resulting in billions in unpaid government obligations.

Also absent from Senate while facing plunder cases are Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta. Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, on the other hand, remains at large in connection with a crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Related Tags

Loren Legarda Senate Sherwin Gatchalian Plunder Case graft and corruption charges
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