Philippine Senate rocked by gunfire during arrest attempt of ICC-wanted senator Ronald dela Rosa

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It was not immediately clear what triggered the gunfire or whether anyone was injured during the tense standoff inside the Senate complex.

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa gestures to reporters at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A burst of gunfire echoed through the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday night as Philippine authorities attempted to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, according to witnesses and an Associated Press journalist present at the scene.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the gunfire or whether anyone was injured during the tense standoff inside the Senate complex.

Dela Rosa under Senate protection

Dela Rosa had reportedly been staying under protective custody within the Senate with the support of allied lawmakers while authorities sought to detain him.

Philippine officials were attempting to carry out the arrest after the ICC unsealed a warrant earlier this week connected to killings linked to the country’s anti-drug campaign.

The senator has remained a controversial figure due to his central role in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics crackdown.

ICC warrant linked to anti-drug killings

On Monday, the ICC publicly released the arrest warrant against dela Rosa, who previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police.

The warrant, originally issued in November, accuses him of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, in connection with the deaths of “no less than 32 persons” between July 2016 and April 2018.

That period coincided with dela Rosa’s tenure as national police chief during Duterte’s aggressive anti-drug operations.

Duterte-era drug war under scrutiny

Duterte’s anti-drug campaign drew widespread international criticism after thousands of mostly petty drug suspects were killed during police operations and vigilante-style attacks.