MANILA, May 13 — Volleys of gunshots were heard ‌at the Philippine Senate today and people were told to run for cover, Reuters witnesses heard, as chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest ‌a top senator wanted by the International Criminal Court.

It was unclear what was happening or who fired the shots. More than 10 military personnel in camouflage fatigues had earlier arrived at the Senate building, some carrying assault rifles, Reuters journalists saw.

It was not immediately clear why troops were there and military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. It was unclear if other security personnel were inside the building.

It came as Ronald dela Rosa, the chief enforcer in former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war ‌on drugs”, said on Facebook his arrest was imminent and urged people ⁠to mobilise to prevent his handover to ⁠the ICC. 

Dela Rosa, who has taken refuge ⁠in his legislative office since Monday, ⁠called on ⁠the public to turn out and block his arrest, saying that law enforcement agents were on the way following the ICC’s unsealing of an arrest ⁠warrant. 

The warrant, dated November and made public on Monday, seeks the arrest of the former police chief on charges of crimes against humanity, the same crimes 81-year-old Duterte is accused of as he awaits trial in The Hague following his arrest last year.

“I am appealing to ⁠you, I hope you can help me. Do not allow another Filipino to be brought to The Hague,” dela Rosa said in a ⁠video posted on Facebook from his Senate office.

Dela Rosa, 64, was Duterte’s ⁠top lieutenant ⁠overseeing a fierce crackdown during which thousands of alleged drug dealers were slain, with human rights groups accusing police of systematic murders and cover-ups.

Police reject the allegations ‌and say the more than 6,000 killed in anti-drugs operations were all armed and had resisted arrest. — Reuters

MANILA, May 11 — Philippine lawmakers ‌today overwhelmingly backed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the stage for a trial in the Senate that could end her hopes for a ‌presidential run in 2028. A House justice committee had last month found probable cause for her impeachment in a petition from activists accusing her of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth and threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the former House speaker. The petition was backed by 255 of 318 lawmakers on Monday, surpassing the one-third threshold required.

With her ally-turned-enemy Marcos limited by the constitution to a single term in office, Duterte is the ‌clear favourite to succeed him in 2028, but the impeachment could derail ⁠her bid.

Duterte denies wrongdoing, and ⁠her legal team has described the impeachment effort ⁠as defective and a “fishing expedition”. The ⁠Senate must ⁠convene a trial with its members as jurors. Duterte faces removal from office and a ban from politics if convicted. The impeachment effort is ⁠the latest in a series of setbacks for the influential Duterte family, with the vice president feeling constant heat from her bitter feud with Marcos and her father Rodrigo Duterte awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court over a war on drugs that killed ⁠thousands of people during his 2016-2022 presidency.

Protesters from progressive groups hold placards during a protest in support of the impeachment of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte in front of the Congress building in Quezon City, Metro Manila on May 11, 2026. — AFP pic

But in what could be a boost for Duterte, there was drama today in the ⁠upper house Senate, where a motion was passed to remove its president ⁠and ⁠replace him with Alan Peter Cayetano, a staunch loyalist of her family.

The change in Senate leadership means Cayetano, a former running mate of Duterte’s father, ‌would be the presiding judge if an impeachment trial is convened. — Reuters