PURA, Tarlac (May 28, 2026) — Three municipal and city mayors from the province of Tarlac have openly signed an official manifesto issued by the Mayors for Good Governance network to condemn the alleged lack of accountability and chronic absenteeism of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in the upper house of Congress.
Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap, Pura Mayor John Paul Balmores, and Anao Mayor Gian Pierre de Dios were among the 72 local executives nationwide who unified in demanding that lawmakers face consequences for prolonged absences while continuing to draw public funds.
The alliance released the manifesto on May 25, 2026, following the controversial reappearance of Dela Rosa on May 11, 2026, to vote in a Senate leadership reorganization after a seven-month absence from regular sessions.
According to the official statement of the Mayors for Good Governance, the lawmaker’s actions are a grave insult to millions of Filipinos enduring daily economic hardships, especially considering that Dela Rosa reportedly received an estimated total salary of P2.1 million during his seven-month absence, based on a monthly salary of approximately P300,000.
The group emphasized that under existing policies for ordinary Filipino workers in both the private and public sectors, a strict “no work, no pay” rule applies, and any ordinary employee absent for that long would face suspension or termination.
“Bakit tila iba ang batas kapag makapangyarihang opisyal ang sangkot? Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong klase ng pagtalikod at pagpapabaya para sa atin na pinapasahod ng taumbayan, habang araw-araw na humaharap ang ating mga mamamayan sa kahirapan, mataas na presyo ng bilihin, at krisis sa kabuhayan,” the coalition stated in their manifesto.
The mayors, including the leaders from Tarlac, strongly asserted that the Philippine Senate should not become a sanctuary for absenteeism and cover-ups. They insisted that lawmakers themselves must lead the way in obeying the law to preserve the integrity, accountability, and welfare of the Filipino people.
The manifesto continues to gather support from local chief executives across the country to push for transparency and genuine public service.
