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Philippine Senate in gridlock after gunfire

2026-05-13 17:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Philippine Senate in gridlock after gunfire

The Philippine Senate was locked down with military personnel seen entering the building where a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court had sought refuge.

Gunshots were heard, but officials have not revealed who fired the shots, but say there were no casualties.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa earlier said he believed his arrest was imminent and called on Filipinos to prevent it. His whereabouts are currently unclear.

He is accused by the International Criminal Court of killing dozens of people while he was police chief during former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands of suspected drug traffickers were shot and killed. Duterte has been held in The Hague since March 2025.

Television footage showed police commandos in military uniforms entering the Senate building in Manila early Wednesday evening, with riot police with shields and helmets surrounding the perimeter.

Protesters outside the Senate demanded the detention of Dela Rosa, calling for him to be sent to trial with Duterte.

His lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court to block his extradition.

The Senate building has been locked down since the shooting and senators have been hiding inside.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the president had given "strict instructions" to secure the senators.

He added: "We are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa. In fact, we are here to protect him. Let this be clear. I made this clear to his family."

No one has been arrested for the shooting, Remulla said.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano asked the public to send in "any videos that could help with the investigation."

Duterte has refused to recognize the ICC's proceedings, arguing that during his presidency in 2019, the Philippines had withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty.

But last month, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Chamber rejected this argument on the grounds that the alleged crimes had occurred between 2011 and 2019 - while the Philippines was still a member of the ICC - paving the way for Duterte to stand trial./ CNA, translated by BBC





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