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Gunfire erupted at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, prompting people to seek cover after a prominent politician wanted by the International Criminal Court claimed his arrest was imminent and security forces entered the building.
No immediate injuries or casualties were reported, according to Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza, who spoke to reporters after the chaos inside the legislative chamber in Manila.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief known for enforcing former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, had earlier called on supporters to mobilize to prevent his arrest and extradition to the ICC.
The Hague-based court unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa on Monday, charging him with crimes against humanity — the same accusations levelled against 81-year-old Duterte, who is currently awaiting trial after being transferred there last year.
Dela Rosa, 64, has denied any involvement in illegal killings.
“I am asking for your help. Please do not allow another Filipino to be taken to The Hague,” he said in a Facebook video from his Senate office, where he has taken refuge under legislative protection since Monday.
Senate Secretary Mendoza stated that law enforcement officials, believed to be from the National Bureau of Investigation, had attempted to enter the Senate and reportedly fired shots as they retreated.
However, NBI Director Melvin Matibag told GMA News that no agents had been dispatched, stating, “I spoke to the justice minister, and he told me to wait for further instructions. We aren’t prepared for any operation at this time.”
Over ten military personnel dressed in camouflage and carrying assault rifles arrived at the scene, witnesses from Reuters observed.
The military’s public affairs chief, Xerxes Trinidad, mentioned that the Senate had requested assistance to help secure the premises.
Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said it remains unclear who shot the guns and that authorities would review security footage. He reassured dela Rosa’s safety and confirmed that no arrests were planned.
Dela Rosa, once Duterte’s top lieutenant responsible for overseeing a brutal crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths, has fought against the charges, which rights groups claim involve systematic murders and cover-ups by police.
Police assert that all over 6,000 casualties in anti-drug operations were armed and resisted arrest.
Activists argue that the true number may never be known, citing daily shootings of drug users and small-time peddlers in impoverished neighborhoods, often blamed on vigilantes and gang conflicts.
Throughout Wednesday, the Senate was tightly guarded, with police positioned to maintain order amid protests demanding dela Rosa’s arrest. Many protesters also called for him to be handed over to the ICC.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said he discussed the situation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who assured him that no government officials were involved in Wednesday’s incident.
Dela Rosa returned to the Senate Monday for the first time since going into hiding last November, urging Marcos not to extradite him to the ICC. He has also filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court to prevent his transfer, which the court acknowledged, giving all parties involved 72 hours to respond.
Dela Rosa claims any transfer would be illegal because the Philippines no longer adheres to the Rome Statute after Duterte unilaterally withdrew from the ICC in 2018, shortly after the court announced an initial review of his anti-drugs campaign. The ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while a country was a member.
Duterte, who faces potential trial at the ICC—making him the first Asian former head of state in that position—has publicly challenged the court, declaring he’s willing to “rot in jail” to protect his nation from drug-related violence. His legal team continues to deny the allegations against him.
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