Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has requested permission to use the Senate Mansion in Baguio City to house his family later this month, but Senate officials say the stay is unlikely to push through because the property is undergoing repairs and internal rules require the senator’s presence.
The request, dated March 12, 2026, sought access to the official residence from March 26 to 29 during the CSAFP Cup 2026, a sporting event scheduled at the Philippine Military Academy firing range in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. One day later, Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza denied the request, citing both construction work and chamber policy.
A Request Amid Repairs
In his letter to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, dela Rosa wrote: “May we request your good office to allow us to use the Senate Mansion on March 26-29, 2026? The mansion will be used solely to accommodate the undersigned’s family during the CSAFP CUP 2026 in Baguio City.”
The Senate Mansion serves as the official residence for senators when they attend official activities in Baguio City. However, Mendoza said the request could not be granted.
“The Senate mansion is undergoing repairs now and the policy is the family must be accompanied by the senator,” Mendoza said.
No public records have yet been released detailing the nature or cost of the ongoing repairs. Senate officials have not provided a timeline for when work on the property will be completed.
Policy Requires Senator’s Presence
Beyond the repair work, Senate rules require that any family members staying at the mansion be accompanied by the senator concerned. There is no publicly cited law governing such use; the arrangement appears to fall under internal Senate policy.
The issue gained traction after dela Rosa’s letter circulated among journalists. Sotto described the correspondence as a “privileged communication” and said he did not know how it reached media hands.
The episode has prompted debate online, with critics questioning the appropriateness of the request given the senator’s prolonged absence from Senate sessions.
Prolonged Absence From the Senate
Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since November 11, 2025. His absence coincided with reports of a potential International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant linked to his role in the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign when he served as chief of the Philippine National Police.
In February 2026, the ICC Prosecutor named dela Rosa as a “co-perpetrator,” along with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and others, in cases involving allegations of murder and attempted murder tied to the drug war. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but proceedings connected to the country’s earlier membership continue.
Despite not appearing in sessions physically, dela Rosa has signed Senate documents, including a minority report in December 2025 and Resolution 343 on a Middle East contingency plan approved on March 17.
Civil society group ‘Wag Kang KuCorrupt’ has filed an ethics complaint against him over his absence, though the complaint is unrelated to the mansion request.
Limited Public Impact, Heightened Scrutiny
The matter has no direct effect on public services, taxation, or daily life. The Senate Mansion is not a public lodging facility but a state-owned residence designated for lawmakers on official business in Baguio City.
Still, the incident underscores broader questions about accountability and privilege. For critics, the request — though denied — illustrates the tension between official prerogatives and public expectations at a time when dela Rosa faces international legal scrutiny.
For Senate leadership, the response remains procedural: the property is under repair, the rules require a senator’s presence, and the request does not meet those conditions.
With the March 26–29 event approaching and repairs ongoing, Senate officials have indicated that the mansion will not be available for the senator’s family during the scheduled dates.
