Photo credit: Senator Bato Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — A request from Ronald dela Rosa to allow members of his family to stay at the Senate Mansion later this month has been declined because the property is currently undergoing repairs, Senate officials said.

In a letter obtained by members of the media, the senator asked permission for his family to use the official Senate residence in Baguio City from March 26 to 29 during the CSAFP Cup, a sporting event associated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The request was referred to the Senate secretariat for appropriate action.

Mark Llandro Mendoza, secretary of the Senate of the Philippines, later confirmed that the request could not be granted.

“The Senate mansion is undergoing repairs now and the policy is the family must be accompanied by the Senator,” Mendoza said.

Asked whether this meant the request would effectively be denied, Mendoza replied, “Yes.”

The Senate Mansion in Baguio serves as an official residence and venue for senators attending official functions or activities in the city. Under existing policies, family members may use the facility only if the requesting senator is present.

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, has been linked in discussions surrounding the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes related to the government’s anti-drug campaign.

The senator has repeatedly defended the anti-drug operations and has said he is prepared to face any legal challenge related to the issue.

For now, Senate officials say the matter regarding the Baguio property remains purely administrative, with the mansion temporarily unavailable due to ongoing renovation work.