Gunshots were reported inside the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday, causing chaos as armed personnel moved through the building, according to eyewitnesses; the incident occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding a possible arrest of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

Senate Shooting and Military Presence

More than 10 soldiers in camouflage uniforms entered the Senate complex, some carrying assault rifles, but it remained unclear who fired the shots or why the troops were deployed. Witnesses described scenes of panic as journalists and others scrambled for cover during the incident.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa has been sheltering in his office since Monday and has warned that his arrest was imminent. He urged supporters to mobilize and block any attempt to transfer him to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Background on Dela Rosa and the ICC Charges

Dela Rosa. Known by his nickname ‘Bato’ meaning ‘Rock,’ served as national police chief from 2016 to 2018 and acted as Duterte’s chief enforcer during the controversial anti-drug campaign. Human rights monitors have reported that the enforcement action left thousands dead, many of them drug users and low-level narcotics sellers. Dela Rosa denies any involvement in illegal killings and argues that his transfer to the ICC would be illegal, as the Philippines is no longer a signatory to the court.

Former President Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018 after the court announced a preliminary examination into his anti-drug campaign; According to the ICC, crimes committed while a country was a member remain under the court’s jurisdiction. Dela Rosa has called on his fellow military members and former classmates at the Philippine Military Academy to express their support, arguing that the current administration should not hand him over to foreign authorities.

Political Tensions and Ongoing ICC Cases

On Monday. The Philippine lower house of parliament voted to advance impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president; Duterte himself is already in The Hague awaiting trial at the ICC. Dela Rosa previously served as City Director of the Davao City Police under both Sara Duterte and her father when he succeeded her as the city’s mayor in 2013.

As the situation continues to unfold, the incident at the Senate has heightened concerns over the potential for further unrest and the broader implications for the country’s political setting and its relationship with international legal institutions.