Standoff at Philippine Senate Between Sergeant-at-Arms and NBI; Presidential Palace Says They Exchanged Warning Shots
Gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate last night, causing political turmoil during a sensitive time. The Philippine Presidential Palace held a press conference today to explain that the gunshots were from Senate security and National Bureau of Investigation personnel exchanging warning shots, with no injuries reported.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 18:42
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 19:02 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 23:56 (4h 54m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, reporter Lin Hsing-chien, Manila, 14th) Gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate last night, causing political turmoil during a politically sensitive time. The Philippine Presidential Palace held a press conference today to explain that the gunshots came from Senate Sergeant-at-Arms personnel and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents exchanging warning shots. No one was injured.
At least 10 gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate at nearly 8 p.m. last night. At the time, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was also inside the Senate building. It was widely believed that the incident was related to whether the government would send personnel to arrest Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa previously served as the Philippine National Police Chief and is considered one of the key implementers of former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.
After learning in November last year that he might be arrested by the ICC, he went into hiding and only reappeared at the Senate on the 11th to seek protection, creating a standoff between the Senate and law enforcement agencies over the ICC arrest warrant. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was once Duterte's running mate.
Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro explained at a press conference today that next to the Senate building is the GSIS building, and the two are connected by a sky bridge. Due to protesters gathering outside the Senate, the GSIS requested assistance from the NBI to help secure their building.
Castro stated that when NBI agents were on guard near the sky bridge, they were questioned by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms personnel. Shortly after, the Senate personnel put on bulletproof vests and fired warning shots, and the NBI agents then also fired warning shots.
Despite this, Castro clarified: 'The NBI or the police were not going to carry out an arrest operation against Dela Rosa.'
Cayetano confirmed at another press conference this afternoon that Dela Rosa had left the Senate premises earlier but did not disclose his whereabouts.
The scene at the Senate was chaotic for a time after the gunshots were heard last night. Cayetano claimed in a Facebook live stream at the time that the Senate was under attack, while President Marcos Jr. stated that no government personnel were involved in the incident.
Former Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV boldly speculated in an interview with local media today that the gunshot incident might have been staged by someone to create turmoil or gain public sympathy to obstruct law enforcement from executing the ICC arrest warrant.
The Philippine House of Representatives yesterday sent the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate. According to the Philippine Constitution, the Senate must convene as an impeachment court to hear the case. Among the 24 senators, at least two-thirds, or 16 votes, are needed to support a conviction for the impeachment to pass.
Observers believe that whether Dela Rosa is arrested could further influence the voting tendencies of some senators on the impeachment case. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150514
At least 10 gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate at nearly 8 p.m. last night. At the time, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was also inside the Senate building. It was widely believed that the incident was related to whether the government would send personnel to arrest Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa previously served as the Philippine National Police Chief and is considered one of the key implementers of former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.
After learning in November last year that he might be arrested by the ICC, he went into hiding and only reappeared at the Senate on the 11th to seek protection, creating a standoff between the Senate and law enforcement agencies over the ICC arrest warrant. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was once Duterte's running mate.
Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro explained at a press conference today that next to the Senate building is the GSIS building, and the two are connected by a sky bridge. Due to protesters gathering outside the Senate, the GSIS requested assistance from the NBI to help secure their building.
Castro stated that when NBI agents were on guard near the sky bridge, they were questioned by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms personnel. Shortly after, the Senate personnel put on bulletproof vests and fired warning shots, and the NBI agents then also fired warning shots.
Despite this, Castro clarified: 'The NBI or the police were not going to carry out an arrest operation against Dela Rosa.'
Cayetano confirmed at another press conference this afternoon that Dela Rosa had left the Senate premises earlier but did not disclose his whereabouts.
The scene at the Senate was chaotic for a time after the gunshots were heard last night. Cayetano claimed in a Facebook live stream at the time that the Senate was under attack, while President Marcos Jr. stated that no government personnel were involved in the incident.
Former Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV boldly speculated in an interview with local media today that the gunshot incident might have been staged by someone to create turmoil or gain public sympathy to obstruct law enforcement from executing the ICC arrest warrant.
The Philippine House of Representatives yesterday sent the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate. According to the Philippine Constitution, the Senate must convene as an impeachment court to hear the case. Among the 24 senators, at least two-thirds, or 16 votes, are needed to support a conviction for the impeachment to pass.
Observers believe that whether Dela Rosa is arrested could further influence the voting tendencies of some senators on the impeachment case. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150514