Gunshots fired in Philippine Senate where lawmaker wanted by ICC is holed up

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief, enforced former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. Philippines: Gunshots fired in Senate where senator wanted by ICC is holed up Journalists scramble as gunshots sound in Philippine senate Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Close up image of an exasperated Philippine senator Ronald dela Rosa Gunshots fired in Philippine Senate where lawmaker wanted by ICC is holed up Watch: Journalists scramble as gunshots sound in Philippine senate The Philippine Senate was locked down with military personnel seen entering the building where a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) had sought refuge. Rounds of gunfire were heard but officials have not revealed who fired the shots. They said there were no casualties. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said earlier he believed his arrest was imminent and urged Filipinos to prevent it. He is safe and with security personnel, officials said. said earlier he believed his arrest was imminent and urged Filipinos to prevent it. He is safe and with security personnel, officials said. He is accused by the ICC of killing dozens of people when he was police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands of alleged dealers were shot and killed. Duterte has been held at The Hague since March 2025. He is accused by the ICC of killing dozens of people when he was police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands of alleged dealers were shot and killed. Duterte has been held at The Hague since March 2025 TV footage showed police commandos in fatigues entering the Senate building in Manila early on Wednesday evening, with anti-riot policemen with shields and helmets surrounding the perimeter. Protesters outside the Senate demanded Dela Rosa's detention, calling for him to be sent to stand trial with Duterte. His lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court to block his extradition. Officials have not said who fired the shots or why A man dressed in a blue shirt and a bullet-proof vest carrying a gun. Dela Rosa was captured on CCTV stumbling on a staircase during the incident Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa stumbles on stairs as he runs away from Philippine law enforcement agents inside the Philippine Senate. The senate building has been locked down since the shots, and senators are holed up inside. The government has denied trying to arrest Dela Rosa, and says it is still investigating who opened fire. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the president had given "strict instructions" to secure the senators. Dela Rosa is "safe" and with security personnel, he added. Armed police commandos in fatigues were seen entering the Senate Military personnel in camouflage fatigues enter the Senate building where Philippine Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the chief enforcer of former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, at the Senate, is under protective custody amid an International Criminal Court warrant, as more than a dozen gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, and people were told to run for cover, according to a Reuters witness, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez "We are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa," he said. "In fact, we are here to protect him. Let that be clear. I made that clear to his family." No one has been arrested for the shooting, Remulla said. Senate speaker Alan Peter Cayetano asked the public to send "any videos that could help with the investigation". The senate is currently controlled by allies of Duterte, whose daughter Sara is the vice president. An alliance between the Duterte family and that of current President Bongbong Marcos collapsed two years ago, setting off a bitter feud between them. An alliance between the Duterte family and that of current President Bongbong Marcos collapsed two years ago, On Monday the lower house of congress voted to start impeachment of the vice president, but the senate has the power to block it. Dela Rosa (left) and Senator Bong Go at the senate on Wednesday Philippine senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa and Bong Go Duterte has refused to recognise the ICC proceedings, arguing that during his presidency in 2019 the Philippines had pulled out of the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding agreement. But last month, judges in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber rejected that argument on the grounds that the alleged crimes had happened between 2011 and 2019 - while the Philippines was still a member of the ICC - paving the way for Duterte to stand trial. Additional reporting by Simon Fraser and Ella Kipling Former Philippine presidenr Rodrigo Duterte ICC confirms murder charges against ex-Philippine president Duterte: What you need to know Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech as he witnesses the arrival of a shipment of Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on February 28, 2021 in Manila, Philippines. Duterte: The provocative but popular Philippine strongman Philippine VP Sara Duterte impeached for a second time Gunshots rang out sparking chaos in the Senate building where Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa had sought refuge. Rounds of gunfire were heard but officials have not revealed who fired the shots. 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