Tense Standoff at Philippine Senate as ICC Seeks to Arrest Duterte-Era General

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) efforts to arrest former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, now a senator, at the Philippine Senate building faced intense resistance. Dozens of shots rang out in the building as Philippine marines and police attempted to secure Dela Rosa.

According to a detikcom summary on Friday (15/5/2026), the ICC confirmed it had issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa. They accuse him of committing crimes against humanity in the form of murder.

For context, Dela Rosa led the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018, during the first two years of the deadly drug war aggressively pursued under former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. Those anti-drug operations resulted in the deaths of thousands, many of whom were low-level drug users and dealers.

Duterte himself was arrested in March last year, flown to the Netherlands, and detained in The Hague, the ICC's headquarters, while awaiting trial.

Dela Rosa, also a target of the ICC's legal action regarding the deadly drug war, disappeared from public view since November last year. He appeared at the Philippine Senate building on Monday (11/5) and nearly escaped capture by government agents who pursued him to the stairs.

Upon appearing publicly, Dela Rosa affirmed he would resist attempts to arrest and hand him over to the ICC, based in the Netherlands.

'I beg you. I hope you can help me. Don't let other Filipinos be taken to The Hague,' Dela Rosa said in a video uploaded to Facebook on Wednesday.

Arrest Attempt Marred by Dozens of Shots

Indeed, the ICC's arrest attempt on Dela Rosa faced opposition. Dozens of shots were heard at the Philippine Senate building as police and marines moved to apprehend Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa.

Cited from Al Jazeera on Wednesday (13/5), journalists ran for cover as shots rang out—that is, minutes after soldiers with rifles and protective gear ascended the legislative building's stairs.

'Around 15 shots were fired and we were forced to retreat,' said Al Jazeera journalist Jamela Alindogan, adding that security forces then ordered the evacuation of the building.

Philippine law enforcement officers had previously gathered outside the Senate building, according to Senate Guard Sergeant Mao Aplasca, following Dela Rosa's message.

The leader of the 'war on drugs' during President Rodrigo Duterte's era urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday not to surrender him to the ICC, adding that he was ready to face justice domestically.

Fearing arrest and hiding in his legislative office, Dela Rosa stated that he had faithfully served his country.

Shooter Suspect Arrested

Philippine police arrested a suspect related to the shocking shootout at the Senate building in the capital Manila on Wednesday (13/5) local time. The shootout occurred during the arrest attempt on Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, also a former Philippine National Police chief.

Philippine Interior Minister Juanito Victor Remulla said that in the incident, Senate security officers fired 'warning shots' towards several unidentified armed men who climbed the building's stairs.

Those armed men, Remulla stated, then fired shots into the air and left.

Several Philippine senators inside the building, including Dela Rosa, barricaded themselves in their offices during the incident. Fortunately, the shootout did not result in any fatalities.

The exact number of suspects involved in the Senate shooting remains unclear. Philippine authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

'He (the suspect—ed) was arrested at the scene, on the second floor of the Senate building,' said spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, Brigadier General Randulf Tuano, to reporters on Thursday (14/5).

Police seized ammunition from the male suspect. His identity has not been disclosed to the public, and he is currently undergoing gunshot residue testing.

Dela Rosa Successfully Escapes

Following the shooting incident, Dela Rosa was reported to have left the Philippine Senate building. Philippine Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced this during a press conference.

'Security personnel have confirmed that Senator Bato is no longer in this building,' Cayetano told reporters, using Dela Rosa's nickname.

Cayetano recounted that Dela Rosa's wife sent him a message confirming that her husband had left the Philippine Senate building.

He did not specify where Dela Rosa went and angrily denied accusations that he helped Dela Rosa escape and avoid government agents attempting to arrest him.