What happens when the people trusted to protect democracy become part of the chaos?
The question spreads across the Philippines, after gunshots were fired in the Philippine Senate building in Pasay Metro Manila, as Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is currently a fugitive wanted by the International Criminal Court, stays hidden in the Senate Complex to avoid arrest. Dela Rosa, former Philippines National Police Chief, was placed under “protective custody” of the Philippine Senate to protect him from immediate arrest by the International Criminal Court. To block local law enforcement like the National Bureau of Investigation from serving the warrant inside the building, the Senate voted to take dela Rosa under their wing, turning the Philippines Senate Building into a temporary safe zone.
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How Did The Gunfire Occur?
On May 13, 2026, gunfire erupted in the Philippines Senate when building security guards fired warning shots to stop unidentified armed men from entering the second floor. Armed individuals attempted to force their way into the Senate’s second floor. A member of the Office of the Sergeant At Arms (OSAA) fired a warning shot, urging the armed unidentified men to retreat while firing shots in the air. The chaos triggered by the gunfire ultimately led to dela Rosa escaping from the Senate premises and evading capture. The President Of The Senate Of The Philippines stated, “The emotions are high here”. He also said, “This is the Senate of the Philippines, and we are allegedly under attack”. (Los Angeles Times)
The Downfall of “Bato” dela Rosa & How He Got To This Moment:
Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, is a fugitive after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to block his arrest. Dela Rosa’s path to this crisis centers on his brutal long-term alliance with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. When Duterte became President of the Philippines, he chose dela Rosa to lead the Philippine National Police.
In July of 2016, the Philippine National Police launched “Project Double Barrel” under the leadership of former Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. This campaign plan was named “Double Barrel” to approach different aspects of the drug trade in the Philippines. The campaign worked on two levels (The Lower Barrel) & the (Upper Barrel).
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How did it work?
For the lower barrel, police visited the homes of suspected small-time drug users to persuade them to stop their illegal activities and surrender. The upper barrel focused on massive operations driven by intelligence to catch big-time drug lords and corrupt officials. Although this was used during Duterte’s administration, it has been scrutinized by human rights groups for its bloody enforcement. The campaign resulted in the deaths of thousands of suspected drug users. The International Criminal Court (ICC) accuses him of promoting, encouraging and overseeing these deadly crackdowns.
What’s Next For The Philippines?
Investigations are underway to hold those responsible for the gunfire at the Philippine Senate, which occurred while authorities attempted to apprehend Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa under an ICC warrant. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. released a public statement clarifying that the government was not involved in the Senate gunfire incident and assured the public that authorities are actively investigating. As the investigation continues, one question remains: If violence can create chaos inside the Senate itself, what does that say about the future of stability in the Philippines?
