Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III has filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on Rules to recommend measures for addressing senators’ prolonged unauthorized absences, including possible sanctions.
Senate Resolution 751 seeks to close a gap in existing rules that Sotto said leaves the chamber without clear procedures for handling lawmakers who repeatedly miss legislative duties without authorization.
Sotto said the measure aims to strengthen accountability among elected officials whose salaries and allowances come from taxpayers.
“There is a policy gap as regards the possible sanction on a member of the Senate with prolonged unauthorized absence rendering them unable to participate in major legislative functions,” the resolution said.
Sotto cited public concern over prolonged absenteeism and complaints already filed with the Senate Committee on Ethics.
“Such absenteeism and neglect of duty is deemed a waste of taxpayer funds and has caused public clamor over the past months,” the resolution said.
The measure asks the Committee on Rules to review the Senate’s internal regulations and develop a framework for handling prolonged unauthorized absences while ensuring that senators fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.
It does not specify penalties but seeks to establish procedures for determining appropriate sanctions.
Sotto also invoked the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust, saying senators must uphold the “highest standards of public service commensurate to the trust reposed by the electorate.”