Philippine President Marcos calls emergency meeting after chaos and shooting at Senate

The ICC stated it can investigate crimes committed prior to the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court, in the context of the May 11 arrest warrant for Dela Rosa.

Sara Duterte said the alliance with Marcos had broken down, and her impeachment trial in the Senate could derail her bid for the presidency in 2028.

Vice-President Sara Duterte, who is in The Hague visiting her father, criticized actions against political opponents and said she had not spoken with Rosa since before the gunfire; she suggested extraordinary rendition as a parallel to earlier events.

In an interview aired early on Thursday, Rosa said he would exhaust all available remedies to block his transfer to the ICC and indicated he was no longer willing to fight his case in The Hague.

Officials stated that no order had been issued to arrest Rosa, and there were no announcements on the identities of individuals who allegedly tried to force their way into the building.

Dela Rosa’s lawyer Jimmy Bondoc said he spoke with his client during the night and that Rosa believed he would remain inside the Senate, showing no plans to leave.

Police spokesperson Randulf Tuano said one person had been detained and investigations were under way, with bullet casings, assault rifle magazines and other items recovered.

President Marcos Jr. called an emergency meeting of top government and security officials to address the crisis and rising political tensions.

Gunshots were heard late inside the Senate building as law enforcement and Marines reinforced security; reports indicated Senator Ronald dela Rosa had taken refuge inside the chamber, though details on shooters were not confirmed.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to get to the bottom of the incident as tensions mounted over the presence of Dela Rosa in the Senate and the impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte.

The Senate began impeachment proceedings against Vice-President Sara Duterte, the president’s daughter.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief and ally of President Duterte, on charges of crimes against humanity.