Gunfire erupts in Philippine Senate during attempt to arrest ICC-wanted senator

The shots rang out in a building already under significant tension: hundreds of police officers had been deployed outside the Senate since Monday, when National Bureau of Investigation agents first tried to arrest dela Rosa and he ran to the Senate's plenary hall to seek protection from allied senators. The ICC arrest warrant, originally issued in November and unsealed Monday, charges dela Rosa with the crime against humanity of murder of "no less than 32 persons" between July 2016 and the end of April 2018, when he led the national police force under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

It was not immediately clear who fired the shots or why. Armed security personnel, including military members, ran through the building with weapons ready and later asked employees to leave as tensions began to ease, according to AP journalists who were present. Senate President Alan Cayetano appeared briefly before reporters shortly after the shooting but said he could not provide details. "The emotions are high here," Cayetano said. "This is the Senate of the Philippines, and we are allegedly under attack."

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. arrived later with top police officials and said President Marcos had deployed him to secure the senators. He said he had not come to arrest dela Rosa, who remained inside the building. Security camera footage was to be reviewed as part of the investigation, Remulla said.