MANILA — Chaos erupted inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday when gunshots rang out, sending lawmakers and staff scrambling for cover as security forces clashed with supporters of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa — the former police chief now wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
The dramatic showdown unfolded after dela Rosa, a towering figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war, barricaded himself in the Senate and publicly called on Filipinos to rally and block his arrest. No casualties were reported in the incident, Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza confirmed, but the burst of gunfire thrust the Philippines back into the global spotlight over its bloody past.
Dela Rosa, 64, who spearheaded Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign as national police chief, has been holed up in his Senate office since Monday under legislative protection. In a impassioned video posted on Facebook, he pleaded: “I am appealing to you, I hope you can help me. Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague.”
The ICC unsealed an arrest warrant against him on Monday, charging him with the same crimes against humanity leveled at Duterte, who was transferred to The Hague last year and now awaits trial — the first Asian former head of state to face the court. Dela Rosa has vehemently denied any involvement in illegal killings.
Tensions boiled over when law enforcement officers, believed to be from the National Bureau of Investigation, attempted to enter the Senate building. Shots were fired as they retreated, according to Senate officials. NBI Director Melvin Matibag swiftly denied any deployment of his agents, saying his team was awaiting instructions from the Justice Department.
More than 10 military personnel in camouflage, some armed with assault rifles, arrived at the scene after the Senate requested assistance to secure the facility. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said it remained unclear who fired the shots, promising to review security footage. He assured the public that dela Rosa was safe and that no immediate arrest would be carried out.
Dela Rosa’s dramatic return to the Senate this week marked his first public appearance since November. As Duterte’s top lieutenant during the drug crackdown that left thousands dead — with human rights groups alleging systematic police killings and cover-ups — he has become a lightning rod for the nation’s deepest divisions.
Police maintain that the more than 6,000 killed were armed suspects who resisted arrest. Activists counter that the true toll, including countless vigilante-style executions in the slums, may never be known.
The Senate remained heavily guarded Wednesday as protesters gathered outside, some demanding dela Rosa’s arrest, others standing by the man known nationwide as “Bato” or “the Rock.” Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said he spoke directly with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who denied any government involvement in the incident.
Dela Rosa has filed an urgent petition with the Supreme Court to block any transfer to the ICC, which has given all parties 72 hours to respond. He argues the move would be illegal because the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2018 under Duterte. The ICC maintains it still has jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a member.
As the standoff continues, the Philippines finds itself once again torn between loyalty to its controversial strongmen and the long arm of international justice. Whether dela Rosa becomes the next high-profile figure extradited to The Hague — or manages to evade it behind Senate walls — could define the Marcos administration’s stance on accountability for one of the darkest chapters in the country’s modern history.
