MANILA, May 13 - Gunfire was heard at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday and people at the scene were told to run for cover, Reuters witnesses said, as uncertainty grew ahead of an anticipated attempt to detain a senior lawmaker wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Witness accounts reported volleys of shots, but it remained unclear what exactly occurred or who fired. Earlier in the day, more than 10 uniformed military personnel in camouflage fatigues arrived at the Senate complex; some of those seen by journalists were carrying assault rifles. The motive for their presence was not immediately known and military officials could not be reached for comment. It was also not clear whether additional security forces were deployed inside the building.
The events unfolded as Senator Ronald dela Rosa - the former national police chief who headed the campaign widely known as former President Rodrigo Duterte's tough "war on drugs" - posted on Facebook that his arrest was imminent and appealed to supporters to mobilise to stop his transfer to the ICC.
Dela Rosa, who has been sheltering in his legislative office since Monday, said members of law enforcement were en route after the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant. That warrant, dated November and made public on Monday, seeks the arrest of the former police chief on charges of crimes against humanity. The ICC's action concerns the same allegations faced by 81-year-old Duterte, who is awaiting trial in The Hague after his arrest last year.
"I am appealing to you, I hope you can help me. Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague," dela Rosa said in a video posted on Facebook from his Senate office.
At 64, dela Rosa served as Duterte's top enforcer during a period of intense anti-drug operations in which thousands of alleged drug suspects were killed. Human rights organisations have accused police of engaging in systematic killings and covering up those deaths. Police have rejected those charges and maintain that the more than 6,000 people killed in anti-drug operations were armed and resisted arrest.
Separate from the immediate security developments, the day also featured promotional content regarding investment research tools and artificial intelligence-driven analysis aimed at identifying top investment opportunities for 2026. That material emphasised the use of institutional-grade data combined with AI insights to support investment decisions, while noting that such tools do not guarantee winners but may help investors find more successful ideas.
As events remained fluid at the Senate complex, key details about the origin of the gunfire and the role of military personnel present had not been clarified.