Gunshots broke out at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday as Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a top politician wanted by the International Criminal Court, said his arrest was imminent and security forces entered the building.
Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza told reporters there were no immediate reports of casualties. Dela Rosa, a former police chief and the main enforcer of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody "war on drugs," had urged people to mobilize to prevent his handover to the ICC.
The Hague-based court unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa on charges of crimes against humanity, the same charges Duterte faces as he awaits trial in the ICC. Dela Rosa has denied involvement in illegal killings.
Senate Secretary Mendoza said law enforcement officers believed to be from the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to enter the Senate and fired as they retreated. But NBI Director Melvin Matibag denied any agents had been deployed. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said it was unclear who fired shots.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for calm, insisting his government had no involvement and did not know who was responsible.
Dela Rosa was Duterte's top lieutenant overseeing a crackdown during which thousands of alleged drug dealers were slain. Dela Rosa has filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court to block any transfer to The Hague, arguing it would be illegal since the Philippines is no longer an ICC signatory. The court gave all parties 72 hours to respond.