Gunshots Fired Outside Philippine Senate During Standoff Involving Sen. Ronald dela Rosa

NBI director Melvin Matibag stated that no agents had been deployed to the Senate. He spoke with the justice minister who told him to await instructions. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said it was unclear who fired shots at the Senate and security footage would need to be checked.

More than 10 military personnel in camouflage fatigues arrived at the Senate, some carrying assault rifles, Reuters journalists saw. Xerxes Trinidad, the chief of the military's public affairs office, said the Senate had requested help to assist them in securing the facility. Remulla added that Sen.

Ronald dela Rosa was safe and no arrest would be made. The incident unfolded days after the International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant for Sen. The warrant charges the 64-year-old senator with crimes against humanity, specifically the crime against humanity of murder of no less than 32 persons between July 2016 and the end of April 2018.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa led the national police force during that period. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has taken refuge in his Senate office since Monday. He returned to the Senate on Monday for the first time since disappearing from public view in November.

The senator has denied involvement in illegal killings. In a video on Facebook from his Senate office, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said, "I am appealing to you, I hope you can help me. " He urged people to mobilize to prevent his arrest and handover to the ICC.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to hand him over to the ICC. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court urging it to block any attempt to transfer him to The Hague.

The Supreme Court gave all parties to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa's petition 72 hours to respond. The Philippines is no longer a signatory to the Rome Statute. Former President Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018.

The ICC says alleged crimes committed while a country was a member are under its jurisdiction. Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is 81 years old, was arrested in March 2025 and flown to The Hague. He is in detention in the Netherlands.

More than 6,000 people were killed in anti-drugs operations, according to police. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was former President Rodrigo Duterte's top lieutenant overseeing the anti-drug crackdown. Hundreds of police officers have been deployed outside the Senate since Monday.

Thirteen of 24 senators friendly to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa wrested control of Senate leadership on Monday. The Senate was preparing to convene into a tribunal to try Vice President Sara Duterte, who has been impeached by the House of Representatives.