Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former national police chief and chief enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. He is charged with the murder of no less than 32 people during the deadly "war on drugs."
Seeking to evade arrest, dela Rosa sought refuge in the Philippine Senate, where he spent two nights in a standoff with authorities. The lawmaker remained holed up in the building as he faced an imminent arrest warrant.
Chaos erupted in the Senate building late Wednesday when gunfire broke out as authorities attempted to arrest the senator. Witnesses reported more than a dozen gunshots, causing people to run for cover. The country’s interior minister stated the incident followed the attempted entry of several armed men after dela Rosa had asked supporters to prevent his arrest.
Philippine authorities are now seeking to confirm reports that dela Rosa secretly left the heavily guarded Senate premises undetected before dawn. Presidential communications undersecretary Clare Castro stated that officials are currently trying to determine the senator's whereabouts.