Gunfire reported at Philippine Senate amid standoff over ICC arrest warrant

On Wednesday, gunfire was reported at the Philippine Senate in Manila during an incident involving security forces. The chaos followed an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity committed between 2016 and 2018. The ICC warrant, originally issued on November 6, 2025, and unsealed on May 11, accuses Dela Rosa of involvement in murders related to the former administration's anti-drug campaign. While Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza claimed agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) entered the building and fired shots, NBI Director Melvin Matibag denied that any agents had been deployed for such an operation. Local reports suggest a confrontation between NBI agents and the Senate’s Sergeant-at-Arms, though this remains unverified. Over ten military personnel in camouflage were also observed at the scene. Dela Rosa, currently under legislative protection, has urged supporters to prevent his handover to the Hague-based court.