Azerbaijan Expands Pressure on Meydan TV Journalist’s Family as Travel Ban Deepens Rights Concerns
May 14, 2026
Turkish Journalist İsmail Arı Indicted Over Reporting on Erdoğan Family and Alleged Irregularities
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026 – Philippines –
A dramatic security incident unfolded at the Philippine Senate after gunshots were reported during a tense standoff involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former police chief and close ally of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings linked to the country’s anti-drug war.
According to multiple reports, the incident occurred as authorities attempted to serve or execute legal processes connected to an ICC arrest warrant accusing dela Rosa of crimes against humanity tied to alleged extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s administration. The senator had been inside the Senate building for an extended period, where he sought protection from arrest and was reportedly placed under Senate custody amid escalating political tensions.
Witness accounts and media coverage indicate that armed personnel entered or approached the Senate compound, after which gunshots were heard inside the building. However, officials stated that it remains unclear who fired the shots, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the gunfire came from security forces, unidentified armed individuals, or warning shots during the chaotic situation.
The crisis has intensified long-standing political divisions in the Philippines, particularly around accountability for the Duterte-era anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths. Dela Rosa, who led the national police during that period, has denied wrongdoing and continues to resist arrest efforts, arguing that legal procedures are being improperly applied against him.
Government officials, including the presidency, have publicly stated that they are reviewing the incident and have denied authorizing unlawful use of force, while stressing the need to identify those responsible for the gunfire. Senate leadership has also emphasized maintaining order inside the chamber as the situation develops.
The standoff and reported shooting have added to wider instability linked to ongoing legal and political battles involving former and current officials tied to the anti-drug campaign, with the incident now under formal investigation as authorities attempt to establish what triggered the gunfire inside one of the country’s most secure institutions.
Reference –
