KAMANGGAGAWA Party-list Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando on Wednesday raised concern over the apparent exemption of elected officials from the “no work, no pay” principle following reports that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa continued to receive his full salary despite repeated absences from Senate sessions and official duties.
San Fernando stressed that it is infuriating when ordinary workers are strictly subjected to the “no work, no pay” principle while powerful politicians face no real accountability for failing to report to work.
“’Pag ordinaryong manggagawa, no work no pay policy yan. Tapos merong mga Congressman at mga Senador gaya ni Bato Dela Rosa na hindi na nga pumapasok at hindi gumagampan dun sa trabaho nila, nakukuha pang buo yung sahod nila.”
He stressed that Senate leadership cannot hide behind technicalities to justify the moral failure behind absenteeism.
“Totoo naman kasi kahit saan mo hanapin walang nakasulat tungkol sa ‘no work, no pay policy’ sa rules,” he said. “Pero ’di ba dapat di na issue yan? Bilang mga halal na opisyal, kesyo Senador ka o Congressman, dapat automatic na pumapasok ka, lalo pa ang nagpapasahod sayo ay mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino.”
He warned that such practices only deepen public anger and mistrust toward government institutions, especially at a time when workers are struggling to survive on low wages while officials continue to enjoy privileged treatment regardless of performance.
“Pag ordinaryong manggagawa, ‘no work, no pay policy’ yan. May bagyo o wala, may special holiday o wala, inaasahan na papasok at papasok yan dahil pag di siya pumasok, wala siyang kikitain. Tapos anong mababalitaan natin? Merong mga Congressman at mga Senador gaya ni Bato Dela Rosa na hindi niya na nagagampanan yung trabaho niya tapos buong-buo pa rin niyang makukuha yung sahod niya at mga benepisyo ng opisina niya.”
He underscored that even personal legal issues are not excuses for abandoning public duties, especially when ordinary workers cannot use similar reasons to skip work without losing pay.
“Ano ba naman yung maririnig namin na dahilan mo kung bakit hindi ka nagpapakita na meron kang kaso na hinaharap at maaari na servan ka ng warrant of arrest. Ang ordinaryong manggagawa kahit may problema yan o wala, may sakit yan o wala, may humahabol, may huma-hunting diyan o wala, papasok at papasok yan para makuha niya nang buo yung sahod niya.”
San Fernando directly challenged Senator Dela Rosa to show accountability commensurate with his rhetoric.
“Akala ko ba Senator Bato, matapang ka at haharapin mo yan. Akala ko ba ‘bring it on’ at hindi ka natatakot sa kung ano man yung kaso na isasampa o maaaring warrant of arrest na ihain laban sayo? Senator Bato Dela Rosa, magpakita ka na, pasok ka na. Ilabas mo yung tapang mo. Wag lang puro sa press release.”
San Fernando reminded workers that their loyalty should be to fellow workers, not to politicians.
“Wala dapat sa kung kani-kaninong pulitiko ang loyalty ng mga manggagawa. Ang tunay nating katapatan ay dapat nasa kapwa manggagawang Pilipino: sa araw-araw na pumapasok, nagtitiis, at nagsusumikap para itaguyod ang pamilya at ang bansa.
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