• Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the ICC, flees the Philippine Senate amid gunfire.
• Gunshots fired during chaos as security personnel clashed with government agents.
• President Marcos Jr. calls for calm as an investigation into the incident begins.
• Dela Rosa faces charges of crimes against humanity related to Duterte's drug war.
• Political tensions escalate with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte approaching.

On May 13, chaos erupted at the Philippine Senate as gunshots were fired during a confrontation between security personnel and government agents, ultimately facilitating the escape of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. Witnesses described a scene of panic as the building was locked down and armed troops surrounded the premises, following dela Rosa's plea for public support on social media to prevent his arrest, according to channelnewsasia and scmp.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held an emergency meeting with top officials the following day to address the situation, which marked a significant escalation in political tensions in the Philippines. During the shooting incident, Senate President Alan Cayetano confirmed that there was no active warrant against dela Rosa, stating that he had been free to leave, which raised questions regarding the Senate's role in his escape. Critics have called for accountability from Senate officials for allowing his flight, amidst accusations that the chaos may have been orchestrated to aid dela Rosa's exit, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

Dela Rosa, who acted as the chief enforcer of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial drug war, faces charges related to the deaths of over 30 individuals during his time as police chief. Despite the gravity of the charges, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Following the revelation of the ICC warrant on May 10, which pertains to a crackdown from 2016 to 2018, dela Rosa's sudden return to the Senate after months of absence highlighted the ongoing political rifts as the situation intensified, reports BBC and scmp.

The broader political landscape is fraught with tension as Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, is facing her own impeachment trial, leading to increased scrutiny of the political dynamics between her faction and that of President Marcos. Many view this as a critical moment for both the Marcos administration and the Duterte political legacy, especially after Sara Duterte accused Marcos of orchestrating her father's entrapment, per Al Jazeera and channelnewsasia.