Gunshots heard in Philippine Senate, where senator wanted by ICC is resisting arrest

Key Points:

• Gunshots were reported inside the Philippine Senate building where Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, has been resisting arrest; no casualties have been confirmed and the source of the gunfire remains unknown.
• President Ferdinand Marcos stated the incident involved a shootout between an unidentified armed group and Senate security, denying government forces attempted to serve the arrest warrant on Dela Rosa, who has been holed up in the Senate since Monday.
• The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa related to his role in Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, which allegedly involved extrajudicial killings; Dela Rosa denies the charges and is seeking a temporary restraining order from the Philippine Supreme Court.
• Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano allowed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla into the building to ensure safety and conduct a security sweep, with assurances that Dela Rosa would not be served the warrant while legal processes continue.
• The incident occurs amid ongoing political tensions involving the Duterte family, with Dela Rosa’s protective custody coinciding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, highlighting complex power dynamics within Philippine politics.