CEBU CITY, Philippines — Ronald dela Rosa will not be arrested “for now” following a security incident at the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday night, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said, citing assurances from government officials and a directive from the Supreme Court.
Cayetano said authorities agreed to respect a Supreme Court order granting dela Rosa and other parties three days to respond to legal issues related to the International Criminal Court investigation into the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The statement came after reports of gunfire and an alleged attempt by armed individuals to enter the Senate complex triggered a lockdown that confined senators, staff, media and visitors inside the building.
Cayetano said no injuries were reported as of Wednesday night and confirmed that dela Rosa was safe during the incident.
He said communication inside the Senate became limited during the lockdown, prompting him to issue updates through social media.
Cayetano said several officials contacted senators during the incident, including Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Capital Region Police Office chief Anthony Aberin, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
He said Marcos assured lawmakers that the incident did not involve government forces and called for an independent investigation.
Cayetano urged witnesses to provide information about the reported shooting and attempted intrusion, saying authorities are working to determine what occurred.
Earlier, Cayetano described the situation as a possible attack and instructed those inside the Senate to take cover during reports of gunfire.
Authorities have not released a full report on the incident, including the identities of those involved or the circumstances that led to the lockdown.
