Credited from: SCMP
Gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, creating chaos as officials attempted to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges including crimes against humanity. The incident prompted people present to seek cover as over a dozen shots were fired, and military personnel arrived at the scene amidst unclear circumstances about the gunfire, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.
Dela Rosa, who has taken refuge in the Senate building since Monday, has declared that his arrest was imminent following an unsealed ICC warrant. In a video addressed to the public, he urged them to prevent his extradition to The Hague, stating, "Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague," which has drawn strong public sentiment, as detailed by Al Jazeera and India Times.
During the confrontation, Senate President Alan Cayetano confirmed moments after the gunfire that the Senate was allegedly "under attack" but did not provide specifics on the incident's cause. Security was heightened at the building as military personnel sought to apprehend Dela Rosa, who was prominently involved in former President Duterte's controversial anti-drug campaign, which has faced severe criticism globally for alleged human rights violations, as noted by CBS News and Al Jazeera.
Dela Rosa, who has been accused of overseeing operations that resulted in the deaths of thousands during the drug war, has maintained that he would confront the ICC warrant at home rather than face trial abroad. He expressed a plea to his fellow officers to resist what he described as a foreign attempt to take him away, reflecting the extreme tensions surrounding this political standoff as articulated by Channel News Asia, India Times, and CBS News.