Gunshots were fired in the Philippines senate on Wednesday as Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, remained holed up in the building to evade arrest. Dela Rosa, who oversaw former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly "war on drugs," has spent two nights in the senate in a standoff with authorities.
Military personnel carrying assault rifles were seen entering the senate building, and local media reported scenes of chaos as gunfire rang out. It remains unclear who fired the shots. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said no government personnel were involved and promised an investigation, questioning if the incident was an attempt to "destabilise the government or trigger chaos." Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said security footage would be reviewed, adding, "I will not arrest Senator Bato. I am here to secure everyone."
Dela Rosa, 64, evaded arrest on Monday by outrunning government agents through the senate's hallways and staircases before reaching the chamber, where Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, an ally of Duterte, offered him protective custody. Dela Rosa has called for supporters to gather peacefully and urged the military to oppose his transfer to The Hague. He filed an emergency petition with the supreme court to block any attempt to send him to the ICC.
Senate President Cayetano posted on Facebook during the chaos, saying, "We don't know what's happening, everyone is locked in their rooms now, we cannot go out." He appealed for information, asking, "Why are we under attack here?" The National Bureau of Investigation denied deploying personnel to the senate, and no casualties have been reported. The events follow the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, on Monday.
