Senate guards fired shots as ICC-wanted senator fled

Philippine Senate guards are facing investigation after firing shots during a chaotic incident in which fugitive Senator Ronald dela Rosa briefly sought refuge in the building. Dela Rosa, the former national police chief during Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. He entered the Senate last week to ask the Supreme Court to stop government agents from arresting him, setting off a tense standoff that escalated into gunfire. Shots were fired as senators and staff scrambled for shelter, with no injuries reported.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla identified Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca as the first to fire, discharging his weapon outside the building. A government agent responded with a warning shot. Remulla stated that the shots appeared to be without provocation, prompting a formal investigation into the use of force by Senate security personnel. The incident highlights the escalating tension between the Philippine government and the ICC, and raises questions about the role of Senate security in political asylum situations.