Gunshots fired at Philippine Senate during standoff over ICC-wanted senator

Gunshots rang out in the Philippine Senate building in Manila on May 13, 2026, as police commandos attempted to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. The dramatic scenes were broadcast live on television, showing people scrambling for cover in panic as shots echoed through the building. Initial reports indicated no casualties from the gunfire, though the exact circumstances and source of the shots remained unclear.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief under ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, had sought refuge in the Senate building since May 11 to evade arrest. The 62-year-old senator is accused by the ICC of serving as the main enforcer of Duterte's controversial "war on drugs" between 2016 and 2022, which allegedly led to thousands of extrajudicial killings. The charges accuse him of systematically committing or enabling crimes against humanity.

The events took a dramatic turn on May 12 when dela Rosa publicly appealed for support in a Facebook livestream, urging the public to mobilize to prevent his transfer to The Hague. "They want to forcibly bring me to The Hague, to surrender me there," he declared in the broadcast. Security cameras inside the Senate building captured footage of the senator running through hallways and stumbling on stairs as he fled from government agents.

The ICC arrest warrant against dela Rosa stems from his role as Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2019, when he oversaw Duterte's anti-drug campaign. This policy resulted in an estimated 6,000 documented deaths according to human rights organizations, though the actual number could be significantly higher. Dela Rosa, nicknamed "Bato," was one of the most prominent figures in Duterte's administration and was later elected to the Senate.

The confrontation on May 13 escalated when police commandos entered the Senate building to execute the ICC arrest warrant. The building was subsequently placed under lockdown as the situation intensified. Live television coverage of the events showed chaotic scenes as parliamentary staff and visitors fled from the gunshots and sought shelter.

Dela Rosa had previously stated he would fight any attempt to send him to the international tribunal for prosecution. He denied ever condoning extrajudicial killings when he led the anti-drug operations. His lawyers argue that the Philippines is not a member of the ICC and therefore the court has no jurisdiction over Philippine nationals.

The Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faces a dilemma between maintaining sovereignty and international pressure to cooperate with the ICC. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 under Duterte, but the ICC claims continued jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal.

The case raises fundamental questions about senatorial immunity and the limits of parliamentary privileges. While senators in the Philippines traditionally enjoy certain protections from prosecution, it remains unclear whether this protection extends to international arrest warrants. Legal experts are intensely debating the legitimacy of dela Rosa's stay in the Senate building as a form of asylum.

The international community is closely monitoring developments, as the case could serve as a precedent for enforcing ICC arrest warrants in countries unwilling to cooperate. Human rights organizations have long demanded accountability for crimes during Duterte's tenure and view the arrest warrant as an important step toward justice for victims of the anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa's defiant stance reflects broader tensions between national sovereignty and international justice mechanisms. His call for public mobilization has raised concerns about potential civil unrest, particularly among Duterte supporters who view the ICC proceedings as foreign interference in Philippine affairs. The former president himself faces similar ICC charges and has expressed solidarity with his former police chief.

The standoff has paralyzed normal Senate operations and created a constitutional crisis regarding the separation of powers. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri faces pressure to either protect dela Rosa under parliamentary immunity or cooperate with law enforcement. The unprecedented situation has no clear legal precedent in Philippine jurisprudence.

The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the Philippines' relationship with the international community and the effectiveness of international criminal justice mechanisms. As the situation continues to unfold, it represents a critical test of whether international law can be enforced against powerful political figures who enjoy domestic protection and popular support.