Gunfire erupts at Philippine Senate during standoff over ICC arrest warrant
Tensions escalate inside the legislative complex as police and marines attempt to arrest the lawmaker facing charges of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte drug crackdown.
Gunshots rang out inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday evening as law enforcement agencies moved to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who had retreated to his office within the legislative building. The incident occurred as police and marines attempted to execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), triggering a chaotic standoff that forced journalists to take cover.
The former national police chief, widely known as “Bato”, had been under the protective custody of the Senate since Monday, following his reappearance in public for the first time since November. Dela Rosa had previously posted a video on Facebook urging supporters to gather at the legislature to prevent his detention and transfer to The Hague, stating he anticipated the arrest attempt.
Philippine law enforcement agents had been gathering outside the Senate building prior to the gunfire, according to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. Minutes after armed soldiers with rifles and protective gear ascended the stairs of the legislative building, more than a dozen gunshots were reported. It remained unclear at the time of reporting who fired the shots or the exact circumstances that led to the violence.
Dela Rosa faces an ICC arrest warrant unsealed on Monday, dated November, on suspicion of crimes against humanity. The charges are related to the “war on drugs” campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte, during which police report more than 6,000 suspected drug dealers were killed in official operations. Thousands of additional deaths occurred in slumland murders blamed on vigilantes or turf wars.
In an appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Tuesday, Dela Rosa urged the president not to hand him over to the international court, asserting he was ready to face justice domestically. He stated he had served the country faithfully without enriching himself, adding that the president might one day face similar situations. Duterte, aged 81, is also facing ICC charges for crimes against humanity and awaits trial in The Hague following his arrest last year.
