Philippines authorities investigating reports lawmaker wanted by ICC has fled after taking refuge in senate

"Philippine authorities are seeking to confirm reports that a lawmaker wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) secretly left the Senate premises where he had spent days evading arrest, an official said. Presidential communications undersecretary Clare Castro told a press conference that authorities were trying to confirm the whereabouts of senator Ronald dela Rosa, after reports suggested he had slipped out of the heavily guarded building undetected before dawn. Several sources confirmed that the Senator, Senator Bato, is no longer in the Senate premises, but we are still getting official confirmation, she told media, adding there had been no operations launched so far to arrest him."

"Ronald dela Rosa, a senator who is wanted by the ICC for his role in overseeing former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, avoided arrest earlier this week after he dramatically outran government agents and was offered protective custody by allies in the senate chamber. Further chaos erupted in the senate on Wednesday night when gunshots were fired, forcing journalists to scramble for cover. Dela Rosa had earlier said his arrest was imminent and called for supporters to gather outside the senate to protect him."

"Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos later said no government personnel had been involved in the shooting incident in the senate and there were no instructions to arrest dela Rosa. He questioned whether the event was an attempt to destabilise the government or trigger chaos. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Police said on Thursday they had detained a person in connection with the incident."

Philippine authorities are working to verify reports that Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the ICC for his role in overseeing Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, left the Senate premises undetected after spending days evading arrest. Officials said several sources indicated he was no longer inside, while official confirmation was still pending. Security was tightened after gunshots were heard inside the Senate building, and no arrest operations had been launched at the time of the statement. Earlier, dela Rosa avoided arrest after outrunning government agents and was offered protective custody by allies in the senate chamber. He had said his arrest was imminent and urged supporters to gather outside. President Ferdinand Marcos said no government personnel were involved in the shooting and no arrest orders were issued, while an investigation continued and police detained a person connected to the incident.

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