MANILA — Rep. Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list rejected comparisons between her past non-attendance at Senate sessions and the situation of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying the circumstances were “not the same.”

In a statement, De Lima said Senate President Vicente Sotto III should not liken her case, or that of former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, to Dela Rosa’s, stressing that her absence during her term as senator was involuntary.

“I could not be physically present in the Senate because I was in detention to face the fabricated charges filed against me then by the Duterte administration. On the other hand, Sen. Bato is running away from possible arrest by the ICC (International Criminal Court),” De Lima said.

Despite being detained at the time, De Lima said she continued to perform her legislative duties, including filing bills that were later enacted into law.

“Kahit nakakulong ako noon at kahit mahirap dahil wala akong kahit anumang gadget, nagtatrabaho po ako bilang Senador sa pagpa-file ko ng maraming bills na ilan sa kanila ay naging batas,” she said.

She added that she also sought permission to participate in Senate proceedings during the pandemic but was not allowed to do so.

“Nakiusap pa nga ako na mag-participate sa online sessions and hearings ng Senate during pandemic dahil ginagawa naman na yun, pero hindi napagbigyan ng mayorya ng Senado,” De Lima said.

De Lima argued that her legislative output and efforts to engage in Senate work despite her detention showed her commitment to public service.

“Wag nyo naman po kaming gamiting excuse sa hindi pagdisiplina sa isang delinkwenteng senador,” she added.

Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since November 2025 after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that the ICC had issued a warrant of arrest against him.

He was, however, seen in a Facebook post dated December 17 with lawyer Israelito Torreon at a mall in Davao City.

Despite Dela Rosa’s continued absence, Sotto said his office remains operational, adding that there is little the Senate can do to compel a member to attend sessions.

“The only time that you can force a senator to be present is if you need their vote,” Sotto said in a mix of English and Filipino.