There was a shooting in the Philippine Senate on Wednesday evening, with tensions high over attempts to arrest Senator Ronald Dela Rosa who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
It was confirmed that there were no casualties as part of the shooting incident in the Senate building in Pasay City, although it was initially unclear exactly how it happened.
Jonvic Remulla, the Philippine Interior Secretary stated that unknown armed individuals approached and tried to enter the second floor of the Senate building, but were met by Senate security. A warning shot was allegedly fired by a member of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, then armed men allegedly retreated, firing shots into the air.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Has insisted that forces of his government were not involved and that there was no official operation mounted to apprehend Senator Dela Rosa in the Senate.
The Senator and loyal ally of the former President, has been in the Senate compound since Monday, eluding local police, who are seeking to serve an ICC warrant for his arrest.
Senator Dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity over the former president’s anti-drugs campaign in 2016 to 2018. The prosecution has argued that the former police chief assisted in the perpetration of murder and the illegal detention and disappearance of thousands of people during their illegal anti-drug campaign.
The Senator denies the charges and has insisted that the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to investigate him without the blessing of the Philippine Supreme Court. In an emotional Facebook Live stream this week he has begged not to be extradited to The Hague where former President Rodrigo Duterte is held in ICC detention.
Security was tightened at the Senate following the CCTV release of Senator Dela Rosa running through the Senate hallways in pursuit by police investigators. Riot police were later brought in to surround the compound and Senators and staff were placed on lockdown.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano stated that everyone in the building is safe after the shooting incident.
The tension highlights the political divisions and investigations into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign.
