The Philippine Senate was placed under lockdown after gunshots were heard around the building on Wednesday evening, sparking panic as heavily armed security forces moved into the area.
Military personnel and police commandos were seen entering the Senate complex in Manila, where Senator Ronald Dela Rosa had reportedly sought refuge amid fears that he could soon be arrested over allegations tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.
Authorities confirmed that shots were fired, though it remains unclear who opened fire. Officials also said there were no reported casualties.Earlier in the day, Dela Rosa warned that his arrest could happen at any moment and called on Filipinos to resist any attempt to detain him.
His current whereabouts remain unknown.
The senator is accused by the International Criminal Court of involvement in killings carried out during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign while serving as the country’s police chief.
Thousands of suspected drug offenders were killed during the crackdown.Television footage showed riot police surrounding the Senate while armed officers secured the perimeter.
Protesters gathered outside the building demanding Dela Rosa’s arrest and extradition to stand trial alongside Duterte, who has been in detention in The Hague since March 2025.
Dela Rosa’s legal team has appealed to the Supreme Court in an effort to stop any extradition process.Government officials later said security forces were deployed to protect lawmakers inside the building, not to arrest the senator.Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that the president had ordered authorities to ensure the safety of everyone inside the Senate.
He also insisted that no operation to arrest Dela Rosa was taking place.Meanwhile, Senate speaker Alan Peter Cayetano appealed to the public for any videos or information that could assist investigators in determining what happened during the shooting incident.The controversy comes after ICC judges ruled that Duterte could still face trial despite the Philippines withdrawing from the Rome Statute in 2019, arguing that the alleged crimes happened while the country was still under ICC jurisdiction.
