Gunfire erupted in the Philippines Senate on Wednesday, triggering chaos as authorities attempted to arrest a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over a deadly government crackdown on drugs. The incident sent shockwaves through the building, but no injuries were reported, officials confirmed.
Chaos in the Senate
The gunshots were heard by a crowd of journalists, including two from The Associated Press, while several senators remained in the building after a session. Armed security personnel, including military members, rushed around with weapons drawn, later ordering employees to leave as tensions subsided. Senate President Alan Cayetano briefly addressed the media but could not provide details, stating, "The emotions are high here. This is the Senate of the Philippines, and we are allegedly under attack."
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. arrived with top police officials, dispatched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to secure the senators. He clarified he did not come to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who remained inside the building. An investigation was launched, with security cameras to be reviewed to identify who fired the shots and their motives.
ICC Arrest Warrant
On Monday, the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa, originally issued in November, charging him with crimes against humanity for the murder of "no less than 32 persons" between July 2016 and April 2018, when he led the national police under former President Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa, 64, has vowed to fight the ICC order, calling on his followers to gather at the Senate to prevent his arrest. The ICC had no immediate comment on the events in Manila.
National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to arrest dela Rosa on Monday, but he fled to the Senate plenary hall and sought help from fellow senators. Cayetano said he would cite the agents for contempt. Duterte was arrested in March last year and flown to the ICC's headquarters in The Hague, where he remains detained awaiting trial for the killings. Dela Rosa stated, "We should not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague, the second one after President Duterte," blaming politics for his predicament.
Political Divisions
Hundreds of police officers have been deployed outside the Senate since Monday to maintain order, sparking complaints from dela Rosa and allied senators. Dela Rosa said he is ready to face allegations in Philippine courts but denied condoning extrajudicial killings. Five senators proposed a resolution calling for his surrender, but allies opposed it in a heated exchange Wednesday. The Senate, where 13 of 24 senators are friendly to dela Rosa, wrested control of its leadership on Monday.
The disputes reflect deep divisions in Philippine politics. Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, along with allies like dela Rosa, have been harsh critics of President Marcos. Sara Duterte, recently impeached by the House of Representatives over accusations including unexplained wealth and assassination threats, faces a Senate tribunal trial. Dela Rosa, who served as police chief under Duterte, defended his role in the drug war, saying, "My role was to lead the war on drugs, and that war on drugs was not meant to annihilate people."
