The Philippine Senate was placed under lockdown on Wednesday evening as military and police units swarmed the building to secure Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
The senator, a former police chief who served under President Rodrigo Duterte, is currently being targeted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in the government's previous efforts to combat the nation's drug epidemic.
While international activists and protesters gathered outside demanding his extradition, the Philippine government made it clear that their presence was for the protection of the senator, not his arrest.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that the president issued strict orders to ensure the safety of the senators, explicitly stating, 'We are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa.' Gunshots were reported during the chaos, though officials confirmed there were no casualties and an investigation into the source of the gunfire is underway.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between national sovereignty and the ICC's attempts to assert jurisdiction over Philippine officials. Former President Duterte, who withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019, has consistently rejected the legitimacy of the ICC's interference in his country's internal affairs.
As the Senate remains a stronghold for Duterte allies, the political maneuvering continues, with the lower house recently moving to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, a process the Senate retains the power to block.
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