The Philippine Senate in Manila was plunged into chaos and placed under total lockdown on Wednesday evening after gunfire erupted within the complex, where Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had sought refuge from an impending International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Armed military personnel and police commandos in camouflage fatigues were seen breaching the building shortly after more than a dozen gunshots rang out, sending staff and lawmakers scrambling for cover. While officials confirmed that no casualties resulted from the discharge of weapons, the identity of the shooter remains unknown, and the Senate perimeter is currently surrounded by anti-riot police equipped with shields and helmets.
Senator Dela Rosa, the former national police chief and primary enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, had publicly stated earlier in the day that he believed his arrest was imminent. The ICC has accused Dela Rosa of crimes against humanity involving the deaths of dozens of individuals during his tenure as police chief, part of a wider crackdown that claimed thousands of lives.
The situation escalated quickly as CCTV footage captured the senator stumbling on a staircase while attempting to evade law enforcement agents inside the halls of the Senate. Despite the high-tension pursuit, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that the heavy security presence was deployed to protect the senators rather than execute the warrant, stating that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had given strict instructions to ensure the safety of all lawmakers.
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Outside the Senate gates, the atmosphere was equally volatile as protesters gathered to demand Dela Rosa’s immediate detention and extradition to The Hague. Many in the crowd called for the senator to stand trial alongside Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in ICC custody since March 2025.
The legal battle over the ICC’s jurisdiction continues to be a flashpoint in Philippine politics; while the Duterte camp argues that the country’s 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute invalidates the proceedings, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber recently ruled that the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed between 2011 and 2019, while the Philippines was still a member.
As of Wednesday night, the Senate building remains a fortified zone with lawmakers still holed up inside. Senate Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has made an urgent appeal to the public for any video evidence that could assist in identifying the source of the gunfire.
Although Dela Rosa is currently under protective custody and reported to be safe, the brazen violence within the country’s upper chamber marks a significant escalation in the standoff between the Philippine government and international judicial bodies.
