Gunfire breaks out in Philippine Senate as police try to arrest senator

"A burst of gunfire rang out Wednesday night in the Philippine Senate, where authorities have tried to arrest a senator who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for a charge of crime against humanity, an Associated Press journalist and other witnesses said. It wasn't immediately clear what set off the gunfire or if there were injuries in the Senate chamber, where Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has stayed under the protection of allied senators as Philippine authorities tried to arrest him and possibly turn him over later to the ICC."

"Senate President Alan Cayetano briefly appeared before journalists in the Senate and confirmed that he has been told by the building's security that gunshots were fired, but he didn't provide other details and hastily left. "The emotions are high here," Cayetano said. "This is the Senate of the Philippines and we are allegedly under attack." A huge throng of reporters and photo and video journalists, who have been covering the tense developments, were asked to stay in an area on the second floor."

"On Monday, the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa, a former national police chief who first enforced then President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug crackdowns, in which thousands of mostly petty suspects were killed. Originally issued in November, the warrant 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 Duterte."

"Dela Rosa, 64, has vowed to fight the ICC arrest order and said that he would seek all legal remedies. He also called on his followers on Wednesday night to gather in the Senate to prevent what he said was his impending arrest. National Bureau of Investigation agents tr"

Gunfire was reported inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday night during efforts to arrest Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Authorities had tried to arrest him while he stayed under protection of allied senators. It was unclear what triggered the gunfire or whether anyone was injured in the chamber. Senate President Alan Cayetano confirmed he was told by security that shots were fired and said emotions were high and the Senate was allegedly under attack. Reporters were initially kept in a designated area and some later left after Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. arrived with police. The ICC unsealed an arrest warrant charging dela Rosa with murder of at least 32 people between July 2016 and April 2018. Dela Rosa vowed to fight the order and urged supporters to gather to prevent his arrest.

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