MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left the Senate premises around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after senators placed him under protective custody earlier this week following an attempt by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents to arrest him based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said dela Rosa left the Senate together with Sen. Robinhood Padilla, citing a report from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (Osaa). Cayetano said the report did not specify whether the two senators used the same vehicle.
Hours before dela Rosa left, gunfire erupted inside the Senate building after Osaa personnel exchanged fire with unidentified armed men along a second-floor corridor, according to Cayetano. He said the shooting lasted about three minutes and caused no injuries.
The Senate placed dela Rosa under protective custody on Monday after he evaded NBI agents who attempted to serve the ICC warrant. Dela Rosa ran to his Senate office and later appeared at the Session Hall, where he criticized the NBI operation.
Cayetano said dela Rosa was free to leave because no Philippine court had issued a local arrest warrant against him.
“In that sense, it’s like he left protective custody voluntarily,” Cayetano told reporters.
Cayetano also said dela Rosa’s wife, Nancy, sent him a message explaining that the senator decided to leave the Senate to avoid putting other people at risk.
According to Cayetano, Nancy dela Rosa said her husband believed his continued stay at the Senate could endanger others despite the protection provided to him there.
Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, met reporters before midnight Wednesday and presented photos showing him with the senator. Torreon later posted another photo on social media at 1:11 a.m. Thursday denying reports that dela Rosa had escaped.
By Thursday morning, Senate sources and at least one senator cited a Senate secretariat report stating that dela Rosa left the premises around 2:30 a.m.
Malacañang press officer Claire Castro earlier confirmed during a press briefing that dela Rosa had already left the Senate, citing information from several sources.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the Senate bore responsibility for surrendering dela Rosa to authorities after senators placed him under protective custody.
“I believe our senators, our honorable senators, were the ones who asked for that arrangement,” Matibag said.
Matibag declined to comment on speculation that the shooting incident was staged to facilitate dela Rosa’s departure, citing an ongoing investigation and pending statements from the Department of Justice.
The ICC accused dela Rosa, 64, of crimes against humanity in connection with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. The ICC identified him as an alleged co-perpetrator of former President Rodrigo Duterte in cases involving murder and attempted murder.
Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing and maintained that Philippine courts should handle any charges against him.
The ICC issued the warrant under seal on Nov. 6, 2025, and unsealed it on May 11, 2026.
Several senators on Thursday called for an investigation into the shooting incident and dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Senate leadership and the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms to explain how dela Rosa left the premises. He also condemned the gunfire inside the Senate compound.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Sen. Miguel Zubiri said authorities must establish a clear timeline of events and identify the armed individuals involved in the shooting.
