Gunshots Erupt in Philippine Senate During Attempt to Evade Arrest
Gunfire erupted in the Philippine Senate on Wednesday as Senator Ronald Malapong “Bato” dela Rosa attempted to evade an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity connected to his role as the enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war.
Dela Rosa, 64, served as the police chief in Davao City during the 1990s when Duterte was the mayor. When Duterte ascended to the presidency in 2016, he appointed dela Rosa, a long-time friend and ally, to lead the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“He leaves everything to me,” dela Rosa remarked, suggesting trust from Duterte. One of his first actions was to formally initiate the drug crackdown known as Project Double Barrel.
Known as “Bato,” which means “rock” in Tagalog, dela Rosa led the PNP until 2018, spearheading Duterte’s harsh drug campaign. Various human rights groups have accused the Duterte administration of over 12,000 killings during the violent election cycle, with more than 2,500 linked directly to the PNP. Many of these deaths are reported to have been justified through deceitful narratives and manipulated evidence.
In November 2025, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for dela Rosa for crimes against humanity, implicating him in the murder of at least 32 individuals. This warrant remained sealed until May 2026 when dela Rosa was serving his second term as a senator.
Duterte himself has faced similar criminal charges. He expressed willingness to clear his name, emphasizing the good he believed he had done for the Filipino people. He’s now detained in an ICC facility in the Netherlands.
Dela Rosa, elected to the Senate in 2019, quickly became entangled in the country’s volatile political landscape, particularly regarding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, who faced accusations of misappropriating public funds and making violent threats against the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Recent political tensions have seen dela Rosa occasionally vanish from Senate proceedings. However, he reappeared at a strategic moment to support another Duterte ally, Alan Peter Cayetano, for the Senate presidency. While Sara Duterte has faced two impeachment attempts, legislative reforms may decrease her chances of removal.
It was generally thought that dela Rosa had been avoiding the ICC warrant. But, he surfaced in the Senate on Monday, where he found Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officers apprehending individuals related to the ICC matter.
In a chaotic scene, dela Rosa dashed through the Senate, nearly tumbling down the stairs, before making a dramatic entrance into the Senate chamber—where NBI agents weren’t permitted to follow—calling for allies to help shield him from the ICC mandate and barricading himself in his office, escalating what has become a significant political crisis.
Dela Rosa, sporting shorts and slippers, even sang in front of cameras, urging graduates from the Philippine Military Academy to join him in resisting the ICC.
The Philippine government’s various branches soon found themselves in disagreement over who had the authority—and what means they might employ—to arrest him within the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a temporary restraining order against dela Rosa’s arrest, tasking President Marcos with a 72-hour deadline to respond to dela Rosa’s request to suspend the ICC warrant.
During a Senate recess, dela Rosa took to Facebook, claiming authorities were gearing up to arrest him. “I’m here asking for your help. Let’s not let another Filipino like President Duterte be taken to The Hague,” he implored.
That evening, events in the Senate took a sudden turn, although the specifics remain hazy. Reports indicated a police operation, assisted by Philippine Marine Corps personnel, attempted to breach the Senate chamber to apprehend dela Rosa. They were equipped with tactical gear and firearms.
In the ensuing chaos, gunshots rang out—up to 15 rounds—throwing the Senate into disarray as politicians and journalists sought cover. The identity of those involved in the shooting remains unclear, although there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Senate Secretary Mark Landro Mendoza suggested that the shots had come from an NBI officer trying to enter but retreated. However, the NBI later denied having agents in the vicinity.
Police spokesman Randolph Tuano mentioned that one person had been arrested in connection with the gunfire, although details were still being confirmed.
President Marcos stated that he had not ordered dela Rosa’s arrest and clarified that any police or military presence in the Senate was for protective reasons, not for detainment. “We don’t know who attempted to breach the Senate,” he said during a national address regarding the incident.
Additionally, a spokesperson from Marcos’ office alleged that the shots fired were initiated by Sergeant Mao Aprasca. The proclamation cited Aprasca’s belief that there were NBI agents and that he fired a warning shot to compel them to withdraw. This explanation, however, left many questions unanswered about the multiple gunshots.
Amid the pandemonium, dela Rosa seized the opportunity to escape the Senate, accompanied by another senator, Robin Padilla. The NBI announced plans for a national search for him.
On Thursday, Acting Sergeant Mao Apraska revealed that dela Rosa had reached out to request PNP custody. The PNP clarified that while it wouldn’t apprehend him due to lack of authority, the ICC had not yet formally provided the arrest warrant.
