MANILA, Philippines — Four Philippine senators who are currently unable or unavailable to perform their regular Senate duties are voluntarily giving up their salaries, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian—an arrangement that has also renewed questions about whether the Senate should adopt a formal “no work, no pay” policy for lawmakers.
Gatchalian said senators who are detained, considered at large, or on extended leave have chosen not to collect their salaries while they remain away from their duties. The decision, however, is voluntary, highlighting what the Senate chief previously described as the absence of a formal mechanism automatically stopping the pay of senators who are absent but have not been legally suspended.
Among those affected is Sen. Loren Legarda, who has been on medical leave since August 3. Gatchalian said Legarda voluntarily stopped receiving her salary after filing for leave, and Senate accounting and payroll offices were instructed to suspend its release.
Other senators currently absent include Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is considered at large, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are detained, according to reports by Philippine media.
No Automatic ‘No Work, No Pay’ Rule
The issue gained wider public attention earlier this month when Gatchalian acknowledged that the Senate does not have an automatic “no work, no pay” mechanism covering every senator who is absent from work.
He explained that lawmakers who are legally suspended, such as through a court order, may have their salaries and certain benefits affected under existing rules. But for senators who are absent for other reasons—including those outside the country or otherwise unable to report for duty—the situation is not necessarily governed by an automatic salary cutoff.
That means the decision by the currently absent senators to stop receiving their salaries is being treated as a voluntary move rather than the result of a blanket Senate rule.
The distinction is significant as public scrutiny grows over accountability and taxpayer-funded compensation for elected officials who are unable to attend legislative proceedings.
What Happens to the Unclaimed Salaries?
Gatchalian said money that is not released as salary could eventually be treated as unspent funds or savings, subject to government budgeting and accounting rules, allowing the Senate to potentially use the funds for other authorized purposes.
The Senate President also stressed that the chamber cannot independently decide whether detained senators can leave custody to attend Senate sessions or perform official duties. Once a lawmaker is under the jurisdiction of a court, decisions regarding their movement and participation are generally matters for the court to determine.
A Bigger Question for the Senate
The voluntary decision to forgo salaries may ease immediate concerns over public funds, but it has also exposed a broader policy gap: Should senators who cannot perform their duties automatically stop receiving taxpayer-funded salaries?
Gatchalian has previously discussed the possibility of a more formal “no work, no pay” framework, a proposal that could become increasingly relevant as the Senate confronts prolonged absences involving lawmakers facing legal cases, detention, or other circumstances.
For now, the arrangement depends largely on voluntary action.
And that leaves one major question hanging over the controversy: Will the Senate turn this temporary practice into a permanent rule—or will future absentee lawmakers still be allowed to decide for themselves whether to keep collecting their salaries?
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