Gunfire erupts in Philippine Senate amid ICC arrest bid for senator

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Gunfire erupted inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday evening as law enforcement moved to arrest a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), prompting a lockdown and deployment of military personnel. The shots were heard as Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a former police chief who oversaw ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly "war on drugs," remained holed up in the legislative building. No injuries were reported, but the incident has thrown the upper chamber into unprecedented turmoil.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets, including Reuters, the BBC, and Al Jazeera, confirmed that gunshots were heard inside the Senate building in Manila on Wednesday night. Witnesses described volleys of gunfire and people being told to run for cover)Skip. The Philippine Senate was placed on lockdown, and military personnel in camouflage fatigues were seen entering the building, some carrying assault rifles, according to Reuters journalists at the scene.

However, the exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. Initial reports from Reuters and the BBC said it was not known who fired the shots or why. Al Jazeera later reported, citing Philippine authorities, that the shooting was not an "attack on the Senate" and that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca fired the first shot. Investigators recovered 44 fired cartridges traced to four firearms, according to National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez. The case has been handed to the Department of Justice for further investigation.

Key Claims

• Gunshots were heard inside the Philippine Senate on May 13, 2026, with multiple outlets reporting the incident, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
• Senator Ronald Dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, specifically the murder of at least 32 people during his tenure as national police chief from July 2016 to April 2018. The warrant was unsealed on Monday, May 11.
• Dela Rosa oversaw Duterte's war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Human rights groups allege systematic killings, while Philippine police say those killed were armed and resisted arrest.
• Dela Rosa took refuge in the Senate after authorities attempted to arrest him on Monday. He called on the public to gather and block his arrest, saying in a Facebook video, "Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague."
• Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca fired the first shot, according to Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla. However, this claim has not been independently verified and is based solely on official statements.
• 44 fired cartridges were recovered, traced to four firearms, per police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez. This detail has been reported only by Al Jazeera.
• The Senate was in lockdown during the incident, with military and police deployed around the building.

Perspectives

Authorities, as represented by Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, have sought to downplay the shooting, insisting it was not an attack on the Senate and that no government agents entered the building. They have characterized the gunfire as an unprovoked discharge by Senate security officers, now under investigation.

Senator Dela Rosa and his allies view the ICC arrest attempt as politically motivated and an infringement on Philippine sovereignty. Dela Rosa has vowed to fight the warrant and appealed to the Supreme Court to block his extradition. His supporters gathered outside the Senate to prevent his arrest.

Critics and human rights groups argue that Dela Rosa and Duterte must face justice for the drug war's atrocities, which claimed thousands of lives, often with impunity. Protesters outside the Senate called for Dela Rosa's detention and trial.

The ICC's jurisdiction over the case has been a point of contention, with Duterte arguing that the Philippines left the Rome Statute in 2019. However, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber recently ruled that alleged crimes committed between 2011 and 2019 fall under its jurisdiction, paving the way for Duterte's trial in The Hague.