Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson rejected speculation that a 50-million-peso Dela Rosa reward was intended to prevent fellow Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from voting in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Key Takeaways

  • Lacson said senators beyond the Senate’s coercive power would be excluded when calculating the required number of votes.
  • Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the reward on October 23, 2026.
  • Dela Rosa is reportedly the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa reward and the impeachment vote

In a radio interview on October 24, Lacson dismissed the suggestion that authorities were pursuing Dela Rosa to keep him from voting. He said the impeachment court had ruled that senators beyond the Senate’s coercive power would not be included in the denominator used to determine the required number of votes.

Lacson questioned why an arrest would be needed to prevent Dela Rosa from participating when the senator was already absent and out of public view. He said Dela Rosa could theoretically attempt to vote, as he had during an earlier change in Senate leadership, but that doing so again would be risky.

Lacson said he did not see how Dela Rosa could take part in the trial or vote, while acknowledging potential legal questions. He said a petition concerning the matter had reached the Supreme Court but was dismissed for lack of legal standing and prematurity.

Questions over an earlier arrest opportunity

Lacson also questioned why authorities had not arrested Dela Rosa when they had an opportunity in May. Remulla had expressed regret that an arrest was not made at that time.

Lacson said parliamentary tradition and precedent may have influenced the decision. He recalled former Senate president Jovito Salonga’s position that senators should not be arrested inside the session hall, while noting that such protection did not necessarily extend to a senator’s office.

Next milestone

Authorities have given Dela Rosa one week to surrender.

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