Gunshots Heard Inside Philippines' Senate as Ex-President Duterte Aide Tries to Evade Arrest
According to witnesses and reports from the Associated Press, the burst of shots rang out while Senator Ronald dela Rosa remained in the building under the protective custody of allied lawmakers.
Manila— The Philippine Senate descended into absolute chaos on Wednesday (May 13th, 2026) evening as gunfire broke out during a high-stakes attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
Witnesses and journalists on the scene reported a sudden burst of shots echoing through the air as people dove for cover as the standoff over the senator’s looming surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC) turned violent.
The tension has been building since Monday, when ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for Rosa, charging him with crimes against humanity for his role as the chief enforcer of the former president Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal ‘war on drugs’.
Since then, Rosa, who is the former police chief, has been holed up in his legislative office under the protection of the senator who supported him. Just moments before the shooting started, Rosa had taken to Facebook to send out a warning about his impending arrest and calling on his supporters to take to the streets to prevent his detention by the international authorities.
The atmosphere at the Senate premises had been grim all day with the arrival of a group of military personnel in full camouflage carrying assault rifles. While it is still unclear who pulled the trigger or if anyone was wounded in the crossfire, military officials are yet to confirm the reason behind the heavy military presence on the premises. For now, authorities are navigating a volatile and dangerous deadlock as they try to take Rosa into custody.
Published By : Avipsha Sengupta
Published On: 13 May 2026 at 18:35 IST