By Danielle Tiu
MANILA — Chaos gripped the Philippine Senate Wednesday night after gunshots erupted during a high-tension operation involving police and military personnel attempting to serve an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded after armed personnel wearing combat gear entered the Senate building, triggering alarm among lawmakers, employees, and journalists covering developments surrounding the embattled senator.
Witnesses reported hearing at least a dozen gunshots shortly after security forces moved deeper into the legislative compound. Members of the media and Senate staff rushed for cover as authorities implemented a lockdown and began evacuating portions of the building.
Officials did not immediately confirm who fired the shots or whether anyone had been injured.
The incident came hours after dela Rosa publicly acknowledged that he expected to be arrested over allegations tied to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
In an emotional online appeal, the senator called on supporters to gather at the Senate and stop authorities from taking him into custody.
“Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague,” dela Rosa said in a Facebook video message.
The ICC warrant reportedly accuses the senator of crimes against humanity linked to thousands of deaths recorded during Duterte’s “war on drugs,” which drew widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations.
Dela Rosa, who served as national police chief under Duterte, was considered one of the central figures behind the administration’s aggressive anti-drug strategy. During his tenure, police conducted massive anti-narcotics operations nationwide that critics claimed resulted in extrajudicial killings and abuses.
Government records state that over 6,000 suspects died during official operations, although independent watchdogs contend the true death toll may be far higher.
Authorities have consistently rejected accusations of systematic murder, maintaining that police officers acted lawfully and only used force when suspects fought back.
Earlier in the day, law enforcement personnel had assembled outside the Senate complex while dela Rosa remained inside his office under what was described as Senate protective custody.
The senator urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to cooperate with the ICC and insisted he should face any legal proceedings within the Philippines.
“I worked faithfully. I did not steal from the people,” dela Rosa told reporters, becoming visibly emotional.
He added that he hoped the government would protect Filipino citizens from what he described as foreign interference.
Political tensions have intensified since the ICC revived its investigation into the Duterte-era drug war despite Manila’s earlier withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the tribunal.
Human rights advocates argue the court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member of the ICC.
Meanwhile, Duterte supporters continue to denounce the investigation as politically motivated and an attack on Philippine sovereignty.
The standoff at the Senate underscored the deepening divisions surrounding accountability for the anti-drug campaign, which remains one of the most polarizing chapters in recent Philippine political history.
As authorities attempted to secure the Senate complex following the gunfire, uncertainty lingered over whether dela Rosa would eventually surrender peacefully or resist transfer to international custody.
elami/