"Police spokesperson Randulf Tuano says one person has been arrested after gunshots rang out in Senate. The Philippine Senate President says that a politician wanted by the International Court (ICC) was no longer in the Senate building where he had been taking refuge, fearing his arrest. Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa, the former national police chief and top enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs, has been under Senate protection and is wanted for crimes against humanity, the same charges Duterte is accused of."
"The sergeant-at-arms has confirmed that he is no longer in the building, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters on Thursday. The announcement comes a day after gunfire rang out at the Senate, where dela Rosa had been holed up. Confusion and chaos filled the legislature as people inside scrambled for cover on Wednesday, hours after dela Rosa, had appealed to his supporters on social media to mobilise and said law enforcement agents were planning on arresting him."
"The incident caused chaos, with a heavy police presence and armed guards at the Senate. Protests were also held outside, and more than a dozen shots were fired after the Marines were called in to help the situation. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr held an emergency meeting with government and security chiefs on Thursday, as police spokesperson Randulf Tuano told DZBB radio that one person had been arrested following the shooting and investigations were under way."
"Dela Rosa has denied involvement in the illegal killings, but on Monday, the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for him. Duterte is also accused of crimes against humanity and has been held in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025. The ICC estimates that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed from 2016 to 2019 in the former president's war on drugs."
Gunshots were reported at the Philippine Senate, prompting people inside to scramble for cover amid heavy police presence and armed guards. The Senate President said a politician wanted by the International Criminal Court was no longer in the Senate building where he had been taking refuge. Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa, protected by the Senate, had previously appealed to supporters and warned of planned arrest. After the earlier gunfire, Marines were called in and more than a dozen shots were fired. Police said one person was arrested after the shooting and that investigations were ongoing, with names provided but not yet confirmed. The ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa, and the ICC has also accused Duterte of crimes against humanity related to the war on drugs.
#philippine-senate #international-criminal-court #gunfire-incident #arrest-warrant #crimes-against-humanity
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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