Philippine Senate Locked Down Amid Senator Dela Rosa's ICC Arrest Controversy

The Philippine Senate was locked down with military personnel seen entering the building where a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) had sought refuge. Rounds of gunfire were heard but officials have not revealed who fired the shots. They said there were no casualties. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said earlier he believed his arrest was imminent and urged Filipinos to prevent it. He is safe and with security personnel, officials said. He is accused by the ICC of killing dozens of people when he was police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands of alleged dealers were shot and killed. Duterte has been held at The Hague since March 2025. TV footage showed police commandos in fatigues entering the Senate building in Manila early on Wednesday evening, with anti-riot policemen with shields and helmets surrounding the perimeter. Protesters outside the Senate demanded Dela Rosa's detention, calling for him to be sent to stand trial with Duterte. The senate building has been locked down since the shots, and senators are holed up inside. The government has denied trying to arrest Dela Rosa, and says it is still investigating who opened fire. "We are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa," he said. "In fact, we are here to protect him. Let that be clear. I made that clear to his family." Senate speaker Alan Peter Cayetano asked the public to send "any videos that could help with the investigation". The senate is currently controlled by allies of Duterte, whose daughter Sara is the vice president. An alliance between the Duterte family and that of current President Bongbong Marcos collapsed two years ago, setting off a bitter feud between them. On Monday the lower house of congress voted to start impeachment of the vice president, but the senate has the power to block it.