A Philippine senator, Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, has escaped from the Senate where he sought refuge to avoid arrest. This event unfolded following gunshots fired by Senate security personnel during a confrontation with a government agent, creating chaos that seemingly facilitated dela Rosa’s escape, officials stated on Thursday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the nation late on Wednesday night, urging the public to stay calm as a police investigation commenced. This investigation includes probing suspicions that the gunfire incident was deliberately caused to aid dela Rosa’s departure.
There is no obstruction of justice,Senate President Alan Cayetano stated regarding dela Rosa’s escape while under Senate protective custody.
Cayetano added during a press briefing that he did not see any ICC arrest warrant for dela Rosa, whom he described as free to leave the Senate premises. However, critics argue that Cayetano and the Senate’s security chief should be held accountable for the senator’s escape.
The 64-year-old senator previously served as the national police chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. Duterte, arrested in March last year on an ICC warrant, is currently on trial in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity related to his deadly anti-drug operations. A newly unsealed ICC warrant accuses dela Rosa of the murder of at least 32 people between July 2016 and April 2018 during his tenure as the national police head.
Both dela Rosa and Duterte have denied involvement in extrajudicial killings, though Duterte openly threatened drug suspects with death during his presidency.
Dela Rosa’s legal issues come amid increasing political tensions between the Duterte family and President Marcos. Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Duterte’s daughter, has accused Marcos of facilitating her father’s so-called ‘kidnapping’ for a foreign trial. She was impeached by the House of Representatives on Monday, amidst allegations of unexplained wealth, state fund misuse, and public threats against Marcos and his family. Sara Duterte has denied wrongdoing but has not addressed specific charges publicly.
Senate President Cayetano announced that the Senate will convert into an impeachment court as early as Monday to prepare for the Vice President’s trial. Cayetano, a long-time Duterte ally, recently took over the Senate presidency with the support of 13 out of 24 senators, a position he secured after dela Rosa made an unexpected Senate appearance in Cayetano’s car, seeking protection from National Bureau of Investigation agents trying to serve the ICC warrant.