MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, has fled the Philippine Senate after seeking refuge there to evade arrest. This dramatic escape occurred following an incident on Wednesday night when security personnel fired volleys of gunshots during a dispute with a government agent, creating chaos that facilitated dela Rosa's exit.
In a late-night television address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the public to remain calm while investigations began into the incident. Concerns arose that the shooting may have been orchestrated to provide dela Rosa with an opportunity to escape. Senate President Alan Cayetano stated that there was no obstruction of justice regarding dela Rosa's departure, claiming he did not see an ICC warrant against the senator and suggesting he was free to leave.
Critics, however, expressed that both Cayetano and the Senate’s security chief should be held accountable for dela Rosa’s escape. Dela Rosa, 64, previously served as the national police chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration was notorious for its deadly anti-drug operations. In March 2023, Duterte himself was arrested on an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity related to these crackdowns, now facing trial in The Hague.
The ICC issued an unsealed warrant on Monday, charging dela Rosa with the crime against humanity of murder involving “no less than 32 persons” during his leadership of the national police from July 2016 to April 2018. While both dela Rosa and Duterte have denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, Duterte's stark rhetoric often hinted at death threats against drug suspects during his presidency.
As political tensions escalate between the Duterte family and the Marcos administration, Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, accused Marcos of “kidnapping” her father and handing him over to a foreign court. This conflict highlights longstanding political divides within the Philippines, where disputes often extend beyond mere political disagreements.
In a turn of events earlier this week, Sara Duterte faced impeachment by a House of Representatives, predominantly controlled by Marcos’ allies, over allegations of unexplained wealth, misuse of state funds, and a public assassination threat against Marcos and two other officials if she were to be harmed. Despite these serious claims, she has maintained her innocence but refrained from details regarding the allegations.
The Senate plans to convene an impeachment court as early as Monday to begin proceedings concerning Vice President Duterte’s case. Alan Cayetano recently assumed presidency of the Senate, securing support from 13 out of 24 senators. This majority came after dela Rosa, who had largely been absent due to fears of arrest, surprisingly appeared at the Senate in Cayetano’s car on Monday.
When National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to serve the arrest warrant, dela Rosa managed to evade capture, rushing into a narrow staircase leading to the Senate plenary hall. Once there, he sought protection from allied senators who took him into their custody.
