Gunshots Reported at Philippine Senate Amid Standoff Over ICC Arrest Bid for Ronald dela Rosa
Tensions escalated dramatically at the Philippine Senate after gunshots were heard inside the complex during a standoff involving Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges linked to the country’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
According to reports, multiple gunshots rang out on Wednesday evening as confusion spread inside the Senate building in Manila. Witnesses said people were instructed to take cover while security forces moved around the premises amid fears that authorities were preparing to arrest dela Rosa.
The senator, who previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte, is accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity tied to thousands of killings during the government’s anti-drug operations between 2016 and 2018. Prosecutors allege that dela Rosa played a major role in implementing the deadly crackdown known internationally as Duterte’s war on drugs.
Reports stated that dela Rosa had taken refuge inside the Senate complex after learning that authorities could move to detain him following the unsealing of an ICC arrest warrant. The situation reportedly triggered a tense confrontation between Senate security personnel and law enforcement officials.
Philippine officials later confirmed that no injuries or deaths had been reported despite the gunfire. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said dela Rosa remained safe and no arrest operation was successfully carried out at the time of the incident.
The National Bureau of Investigation denied conducting an official operation inside the Senate, even as conflicting accounts emerged regarding who fired the shots. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano described the institution as being under duress and questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The ICC has intensified its investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths. The court previously confirmed charges against Duterte himself, who is currently facing proceedings in The Hague.
Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing and argued that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC limits the court’s authority over him. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while the country was still a member of the Rome Statute.
The dramatic events at the Senate have further intensified political tensions in the Philippines, where divisions linked to the Duterte family, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, and ongoing impeachment efforts involving Vice President Sara Duterte continue to dominate national politics.
